In the Catechism class children are often asked by their teacher: "Which one is the greatest among all seven sacraments?" The answer is almost always the same: "Of course, the Eucharist is the most important, because in it we receive Jesus Christ himself!"

While under certain aspects this reply is correct, if we reflect more carefully, we realise that the most important sacrament is Baptism, because it is in Baptism that we are born again to a new and higher way of being. It is through Baptism that we receive sanctifying grace and begin to share in God's own life as His own children.

This consideration introduces us to the scene of Our Lord's own Baptism by John. When Jesus approached John asking to be baptised, John was quite reluctant to do so, for he knew quite well who Jesus was. In fact he replied to Jesus: "It is rather I who should be baptised by you!" As we read in today's Gospel, Jesus insisted and Jahn baptised him.

After reading this scene, well described in all three Synoptics, a question arises quite spontaneously: "How could Jesus be baptised? He was no sinner, he was already full of sanctifying grace, and in fact he was the Son of God."

The answer to that question brings us straight to the teaching of today's Gospel.

Baptism at the time of John and throughout the early Church was administered by immersion, a custom which to this day has been retained by the Churches of the Eastern rite, including the Eastern Catholic Church. The person being baptised is first immersed into the water, thus signifying his death to sin and to the 'old life', and was then brought out again from the water to be born again to a new and higher kind of life, the life of a Christian elevated by sanctifying grace. All other six sacraments confirm in different ways what has already taken place at Baptism.

It is Baptism that incorporates us to Christ and makes of us members of his Mystical Body. Hence, the immersion of Jesus into the water by the hand of John the Baptist symbolised his union with the rest of humankind and the fact that he gave it a new life, a higher dimension of existence.

Another reflection, connected with all this is here also worthwhile. Throughout the Old Testament we find water represented as a symbol of both life and death. In the story of the deluge we see all sinful humanity perishing in the waters, while Noah and his family are miraculously saved by God. And later on we see how Moses and the Chosen People, who remained faithful to God, were miraculously saved by the hand of God after crossing the Red Sea, while the Egyptian army was overcome by the waves and perished. No wonder then that the water of Baptism has a twofold effect: it destroys all sin and regenerates to a new life.

Applying all this to ourselves, we should prayerfully and in all sincerity ask ourselves this simple question: "Am I living up to the commitment I have made at Baptism? How is my fidelity to God and how is it reflected in all my behaviour? Do I pray enough? Is there enough love of neighbour in me, and do I go out of my way to help those in need?" A sincere answer to these questions is the help I need to begin the new year with God's blessing.