1 Samuel 1:20 Hannah bore a son whom she named Samuel. “Because I asked the LORD for him.”
Mark 1:22 The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.
Through Baptism, individuals are incorporated into Christ and share in His authority of kingly office. The more one grows in Jesus, the more active and visible this becomes. Baptism provides priestly, prophetic, and kingly mission.
Genesis 1:26-28, states that God created humans in His image to rule over the earth and its creatures. Humanity lost its original authority due to Original Sin; through Christ's redemption and baptism, a Catholic gains access to their original creation, purpose, and the power of the Son of God.
Through
the kingly role of Catholic baptism, individuals are granted the
authority to rule over sin and worldly temptations, empowering them to
control their imagination, thoughts, and actions to live a holy and just
life.
Through this, he gains power to
control his surroundings. It grants authority to the decision-making
process. Since this person is executing authority, he will not act
according to society's notions. He is not bound by fear, customs, or
practices; he is the light of the world, possessing the power to change
darkness in society. It grants authority to use talents, time, and
opportunities on a par with grace.
Exercising this authority regularly in every situation is how we empower it. While executing this, we learn to follow the guidance of the underlying grace that provides it.
A parent who shares in the Kingly mission through their baptism acquires
genuine parental authority. This guidance establishes a foundation of
trust, security, and effective modeling that supports healthy child
development and a robust parent-child relationship.
Every human has a longing to become Catholic, and a Catholic has a longing to become Christ.
An innate human desire for God finds its fulfillment in the structured faith of the Catholic Church, which then calls believers to a deeper, transformative union with Christ. It speaks to the idea that the Church provides the sacraments, community, teaching to move from a general yearning for the divine to an intimate, Christ-centered life, becoming a living reflection of Jesus.
St. Augustine famously said, "Our
hearts are restless until they rest in Thee," highlighting this inherent
yearning.
The
desire to share in God's love is the fuel for all
endeavors. C.S. Lewis said, "Trying to find meaning or happiness
apart from Him leaves us running on empty, leading to the search for a
self that isn't there."
The purpose of human creation is to share in God's love
as citizens of the Kingdom of God. Original sin led to a corruption of human
nature and creation, resulting in a separation from God. God restored this
kingdom through Jesus Christ. Baptism begins this process, providing a glimpse
of the Kingdom of God. To fully experience the Kingdom of God through union
with Christ, those who are baptized must engage with actual grace for daily
blessing and sanctifying grace for purification. Once this response to the
baptismal call succeeds, you will be 'Chosen' to partake in the process of
purgation and realize it is Christ's peace and joy.