Remembering the Flood; Remembering Our Baptism

Homily for Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

From the early days of the Church, the saints have understood the story of Noah and the flood to be related to baptism. The first extant account we have of this is the First Letter of St. Peter’s which makes an explicit connection between the flood and baptism. St. Paul and many teachers who followed him saw the ark as the Church and the flood representing how we were saved from destruction by baptism. In fact, many biblical passages that refer to water have been viewed through the lens of baptism in our tradition. It is such a foundational moment in our relationship to God that the Church wants us to consistently remember the grace and blessings we received in our baptism.

In today’s Gospel text, a blind man is given the gift of healing. In our baptism, a candle was presented to represent the light of Christ that now illuminates our lives. Unbelief is often compared to blindness as faith brings light and clarity. We are called to keep the light of Christ burning in our lives as we receive the grace of baptism.

Both of our readings today can help us reflect on the gifts that we have been given in this sacrament. We enter into the Church which saves us from destruction. We are washed clean. We are reborn. We are brought to the light of Christ and faith.