Homily for infant Baptism(Mark 10:13-16)

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, as we gather to celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism for this little one, the Gospel passage from Mark speaks directly to our hearts. We hear:

> "People were bringing children to Jesus that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, 'Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.' Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them." (Mark 10:13-16, NABRE)

In this beautiful scene, we witness something remarkable about Jesus. While his disciples saw the children as a distraction, Jesus saw them as the very embodiment of what it means to belong to God's kingdom. He became indignant—a strong word that shows how deeply he cared about welcoming these little ones.

Today, we continue this same ministry of Jesus. Through the waters of Baptism, we bring this child to Jesus, asking Him to touch, embrace, and bless this little one. And Jesus, through the Church and this sacrament, does exactly that.

Why were the disciples trying to keep the children away? Perhaps they thought Jesus was too important, too busy with "adult matters" to be bothered with children. But Jesus corrects this misunderstanding immediately. Not only should the children be allowed to come to him, but adults should learn from children about how to receive God's kingdom.

What does it mean to "accept the kingdom of God like a child"? Children trust completely. They depend wholly on their parents. They receive gifts with pure joy and gratitude. They love unconditionally. They forgive quickly. They approach life with wonder and awe. These are precisely the qualities that make us receptive to God's grace.

Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower, understood this "spiritual childhood" profoundly. She taught that the way to holiness is not through great deeds but through childlike trust in God's love. She wrote, "It is enough to recognize one's nothingness and to abandon oneself, like a child, into God's arms."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that "Born with a fallen human nature and tainted by original sin, children also have need of the new birth in Baptism to be freed from the power of darkness and brought into the realm of the freedom of the children of God" (CCC 1250). This is why we baptize infants—not because they have personal sins, but to welcome them into God's family, to mark them as Christ's own, and to begin their journey of faith.

In Baptism, several profound things happen:

First, this child becomes a member of Christ's Body, the Church. Pope Francis reminds us that "Baptism is the door through which the Holy Spirit leads us into God's family." Today, this little one becomes our brother/sister in faith, part of our Catholic family.

Second, original sin is washed away, and new life in Christ begins. Saint Augustine taught that while the water touches the body, the power of the Spirit cleanses the soul. This is why we use water—it cleanses and gives life, just as the Spirit cleanses us from sin and gives us new life in Christ.

Third, an indelible spiritual mark is placed on this child's soul. As the Catechism teaches, "Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark of belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation" (CCC 1272). This child will forever be marked as belonging to Christ.

Parents and godparents, today you make promises on behalf of this child. You commit to raising this little one in the Catholic faith, teaching by word and example what it means to follow Jesus. This is a sacred responsibility, but you are not alone. The entire Church community supports you in this mission.

The baptismal candle you will receive, lit from the Easter candle, symbolizes Christ's light that now shines in this child's life. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Your task is to keep this light burning brightly by nurturing the gift of faith.

As we prepare to celebrate this sacrament, I invite all of us to reflect on our own baptism. Perhaps we can learn from this child what it means to receive God's grace with simplicity and trust. Perhaps we need to rediscover that childlike faith that Jesus praises in today's Gospel.

Saint John Paul II once said, "The future of the world and of the Church passes through the family." Today, as we welcome this child into God's family through Baptism, we are participating in building that future. We are continuing Jesus' ministry of blessing children, of bringing them to the heart of our faith.

Let us approach this sacrament with reverence and joy, knowing that Jesus himself welcomes this child with open arms, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

And may we all learn to accept God's kingdom as children do—with hearts full of trust, wonder, and love.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.