Catholic Homily for infant Baptism - "A new heart I will give you" (Ezekiel 36: 24-28; Romans 6:3-5; Mark 10:13-16)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, parents and godparents, family members and friends, we gather today with great joy to celebrate the baptism of [Name]. In the midst of our regular Sunday Mass, we have the privilege of witnessing this child being welcomed into the family of God through the sacrament of Baptism.

The readings we have heard today speak powerfully about what happens in baptism. They reveal to us the transformation that God desires to work in each of us, beginning with this sacred moment of initiation into the life of Christ and His Church.

In our first reading from the prophet Ezekiel, we heard these beautiful words from God: "I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses... A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."

What a powerful image this is of baptism! The water that will soon be poured over [Name] is not merely a symbolic washing but a true cleansing that reaches to the very depths of the human heart. In baptism, God promises to transform us from within, to replace our natural tendencies toward selfishness and sin with a new heart capable of true love.

St. Paul helps us understand this transformation even more deeply in his letter to the Romans. He writes, "Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."

This is the paschal mystery at the heart of our faith—Christ's death and resurrection—and through baptism, we participate in this mystery. As the water flows over [Name] today, this child is being united to Christ's death, buried with Him, so that like Christ, this child may rise to new life.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that baptism is truly a death to sin and a rebirth to new life. As paragraph 1213 states, baptism is "the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments." Today, [Name] begins this journey.

And in our Gospel, we see Jesus' special love for children. When the disciples tried to keep the children away, Jesus was indignant and said, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs." Jesus then took the children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Today, Jesus welcomes [Name] with this same tender love. In baptism, Jesus takes this child into His arms, blesses this child, and claims this child as His own. What a beautiful gift!

Pope Benedict XVI once reflected on this passage, saying: "Jesus embraces children, and blesses them. In precisely this way, He shows what the true way of faith is: not to force faith upon others, but to attract them by the love that is Jesus Himself." Today, [Name] is being drawn into this love.

To the parents and godparents, you have a special responsibility in nurturing the faith that begins today. The promises you make are solemn ones. You promise to raise [Name] in the practice of the faith, to teach this child to keep God's commandments by loving God and neighbor. Your example will be the most powerful teacher.

St. Augustine wrote to parents: "Your children will learn more from what you do than from what you say." The faith you live daily in your home—your prayers, your attendance at Mass, your acts of charity, your conversations about God—these will form [Name]'s understanding of what it means to be a Catholic Christian.

In a few moments, we will witness several powerful symbols that help us understand what baptism accomplishes:

First, [Name] will be anointed with the Oil of Catechumens, strengthening this child against evil and preparing for the new life to come.

Then, the baptismal water will be poured, washing away original sin and giving birth to new life in Christ.

After baptism, [Name] will be anointed with Sacred Chrism, the same oil used to anoint priests, prophets, and kings in the Bible. This anointing marks [Name] as a member of Christ's body—sharing in His roles as priest, prophet, and king.

[Name] will be clothed in a white garment, symbolizing being "clothed with Christ" and the purity of a soul washed clean of sin.

Finally, a candle will be lit from the Easter candle and presented, reminding us that Christ is the light of the world, and now [Name] is called to share that light with others.

To all of us gathered here today as a parish family, we too have a role in supporting [Name] and the parents and godparents. We are all responsible for creating a community where faith can flourish, where questions can be asked, where doubts can be expressed, and where the love of Christ is evident to all. The Church is not just a building but a family of faith, and today [Name] becomes part of this family.

As we continue with the baptismal rite, let us remember our own baptism. Perhaps it's been many years since water was poured over your head and you were claimed for Christ. Today is an opportunity to renew our own baptismal promises, to reject sin and profess our faith once again.

Let us pray that [Name] will grow to understand and embrace the gift received today. May this child come to know the joy of belonging to Christ, the freedom of living with a heart of flesh rather than stone, and the hope that comes from sharing in Christ's resurrection.

And may God, who has begun this good work in [Name], bring it to completion.

Amen.