This weekend, we celebrate the Theophany (baptism) of Christ, as well as John the Baptist. In both the Epistle and Gospel readings, we hear about more than one kind of baptism. Fr. Gregory expounds on these different baptisms in today’s sermon.

First is the baptism of water, the baptism of John. This kind is one of repentance and cleansing. While it indicates a moral and spiritual revolution, a radical change of heart and mind, John makes it clear that this baptism is a preparation for a greater kind of baptism.

There are two other kinds of baptism—baptism into death and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In Mark 10, Jesus alluded to His baptism through suffering on the cross, destroying death by death. He also pointed to another kind of baptism in Acts 1:5, saying, “John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

When we are baptized, all of these types of baptisms converge. After baptism, we receive a candle, which symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit, the fire of Christianity. From the moment of baptism, our task is to keep the fire aflame. As St. Maria of Paris said, “Christianity is fire, or it’s nothing.”