newspaper or book of their own choice, because they consider them not capable of making their own judgments and free decisions – or , in other words, they consider them sub-human. It is a tragedy when any adult person is unable to take a step that he judges to be best for himself. This happens quite often through social or economic pressure and though prejudice. It means that a free human being is denied exercise of his or her most precious gift, namely, freewill, which is the right to shape one’s own life according to one’s own decisions and choices.

In Baptism, Christ comes to meet that free choice of a person and begins to dwell in that person, bringing with Him His own new risen life.

INTOLERANCE

Are Christians intolerant because they insist on Baptism? Does this mean that they believe that all those who are not baptized are therefore to be condemned?

Again, this is a point where inaccurate ideas need to be clarified. Baptism is the normal way determined by Christ of receiving divine life. But the mercy and love of God is so great that He gives it in extraordinary ways whenever a person, through no fault of his own, cannot receive Baptism.

One has only to see the obvious holiness of crowds of people who have never heard of Christ and to remember that God’s love is so vast that it burns for the salvation of all. God’s love will find a way of bringing to Himself all those who truly love Him and are sorry for their sins against Him.

It also needs to be said that, on the other hand, not all those who are baptized will thereby be saved. Only those who live and die in God’s love and friendship will be saved. There is a process which is the opposite of conversion. It is turning away from God back to one’s own selfish self. And because a baptized person remains free he can still turn away from God.

One tragedy is that there are so many people who don’t MEET CHRIST and do not enjoy all the riches that He lays at their feet. Another is that many are attracted by Christ, they profit greatly from His teaching, but for some reason they never discover fully the riches that are waiting for them in Christ.

CONFIRMATION

We have seen two of these meeting-points with Christ (which are also called Sacraments), i.e., the Mass and Baptism. A third, Confirmation, meets another real need.

The man or woman who tries to lead a good life and makes the world a better place by his or her passing through it, soon discovers plenty of difficulties and temptations along the way. The person who is reborn in Christ through Baptism meets many dangers and threats to his precious new life. He also receives from Christ the task of helping his fellowmen discover for themselves the treasure that he has received.