In today’s first reading from 1 Peter the author reflects on the meaning of our baptism, the meaning of being born again or born anew. It is the Word of God that gives us this new life: “You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and abiding word of God…” Earlier, Peter called upon us to give praise to God for our new birth:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3).
Today’s first reading asserts that this Word of God that gives us new birth proclaims that Christ has freed or ransomed us from slavery to Sin:
“Realize that you were ransomed from your futile conduct, handed on by your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold but with the precious Blood of Christ as of a spotless unblemished Lamb.”
Jesus is the Lamb of God as we hear in the testimony of John the Baptist: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29). We repeat this acclamation three times at the Eucharist right before receiving communion:
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
In many ways 1 Peter is a homily or reflection on the meaning of baptism. We have a new identity through our baptism. We are born again or born anew. We are freed from slavery from the power of Sin and a free to know and to do the will of God. This is our new identity as those who have been born again. Much of the rest of this letter will reflect on the imperative that flows from this new identity as we hear also in today’s 1st reading:
“Since you have purified yourselves by obedience to the truth for sincere brotherly love, love one another intensely from a pure heart.”
Image: “Baptism” by birmingham_lms_rep is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.