The Transformative Power of Baptism – Easter Vigil – Sermon by Father Levine

Fr. Joseph Levine; Holy Family Catholic Church, Burns, Oregon; April 19, 2025

Christ died and rose again that we might die and rise again. He emptied out the tomb. Now, death is not the end, nor a gateway to a shadow existence in the netherworld, but for those who live in Christ, death has become the gateway to eternal life, the prelude to the resurrection of the body.

First, though, we must live in Christ through faith. That means we must die to self. Through baptism, we died to the life of Adam, so as to live with the life of Christ. Let us not resurrect Adam but live in Christ. Let us then walk in the newness of life.

Through baptism we have received a new heart and a new spirit, the Holy Spirit, that renders us docile to God. Let us not return to the ways of rebellion, hardening our heart against God, but be careful to follow the way of Jesus Christ, that he might truly be our God and we his people.

The original creation, described in Genesis, was marred by Adam’s sin. Baptism makes us to become part of the new creation in Christ. As Noah and his family was saved from the flood by the wooden ark, baptism saves us from the deluge of sin by the wood of the Cross. As God led the Israelites dry-shod through the Red Sea, destroying the pursuing Egyptians when the waters returned to their place, baptism brings us the forgiveness of sins, delivering us from the pursuit of Adam’s sin and our own past sins, freeing us from the dominion of the Pharaonic devil.

Baptism makes us to be citizens of the true City of God, the true Jerusalem, the Bride of Christ, bound to him in the eternal covenant of peace.

In this covenant, we taste of the wisdom of God, so long as we seek God’s mercy and turn from wicked ways and perverse thoughts.

Through baptism, we come to know Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God, the Son of God made man, the living embodiment of God’s law, who has appeared on the earth and now reigns in heaven.

Baptism has the power to transform our lives. Some might think: “Well I have already been baptized. Where is all this transformative power?” It is not too late; renew your faith in Christ. Ask him to unseal the power of your baptism in your soul.

Do you doubt the power of baptism? Look to the lives of the saints. They are the ones in whom the transformative power of Christ, working in baptism, is fully revealed.

What is the difference between the saints and us? We are made of the same clay, but in their case, not only believed, but they actively gave their lives to Christ and sought to do his will. They not only desired to attain the fulfillment of Christ’s promise, they sought the proper means to attain their goal. They were not content with compromises and half-measures. Christ was their priority. They were all able to say, like St. Paul, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. (Ph 3:8)

Christ has risen from the dead. What are we afraid of? Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. What are we afraid of? Christ calls us to follow him. What are we afraid of?

Yes, the tomb awaits us, and before the grave we must die many little deaths. Fear not, if we are faithful to the grace of our baptism, the many little deaths we must die along the way will lead us into life and we will find the tomb that waits us in the end is empty.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!