We can ask ourselves: Why do we baptize? The answer is that it is a mandate of the Lord.

After his resurrection, Jesus said to the Apostles: Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned (Mk 16:15-16).

Nicodemus, a Doctor of the Law, went to see Jesus by night, and Jesus told him that baptism is a new spiritual birth: Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above (Jn 3:3). Jesus also said to him that what is born of flesh is flesh, and what is born of the spirit is spirit. We are talking about a birth not according to the flesh, but a spiritual birth.

Baptism is an incorporation to the life of Christ. San Pablo says that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death … so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection (Rm 63-5).

Baptism makes us share in the priesthood of Christ. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we heard that the priest say: "Pray, brothers and sisters, that our sacrifice may be acceptable to God the almighty Father". Baptism gives you the right to offer the holy sacrifice of the mass and to receive the holy communion. Saint Peter says that we, the baptized, are a chosen race, a royal priesthood (1Pe 2:9).

Baptism incorporates us to the great community of Christians. Saint Paul says: You are Christ's body, each one with its corresponding function in the Church community (see 1Cor 12:27-28).

Baptism is like a seed planted in the heart of the child. You, Christian parents, must make this seed grow with a Christian education, giving your children the knowledge of Jesus and instilling in them the devotion to Mary, the Mother of Jesus.

The greatest day, for a Christian, is the day of his baptism. Surely you do not even know  the day you were baptized. Birth is important, but the birth to the life of God is even more important. All Christians should celebrate every year the day of our baptism. That day we received the grace of God, which made us children of God, temples of the Holy Spirit, heirs of heaven and members of the Church.

"Realise, oh Christian, your dignity", says Saint Leo, the Great.

Finally, I want to remember the obligation the parents have to baptize their children during the first weeks after birth. It is not right to wait for a year, or more, like some parents do; the Church does not approve it.

This week we return to the normal life. The celebrations have passed already. Now we have to put into practice the message of peace and love Jesus has brought to us in these ChrisMtas celebrations.