MILO, EUNICE G.

BSA-2A
FINAL EXAMINATION TH 4- LITURGY AND
SACRAMENTS

BAPTISM

Typically, Christians do believe that baptism is truly the stepping stone or the very start of this
life-long journey where we follow the path which Jesus have prepared in the light of the Almighty Father
and His unconditional love for us. In line with this, baptism generally symbolizes “brand new life” since
it washes away our original sin or buries our old sinful life. Consequently, by being baptized and being
welcomed as a Christian, it would implicates that we have willingly devoted our hearts to follow Jesus
and put our faith and hopes in Him. We also assume that by being baptized, we are always guided by the
Holy Spirit as long as we live in this unpredictable life. Baptism also reflects a family since it connects all
other believers into one body of Christ. Hence, our life as Christians becomes more meaningful because
there are a lot of individuals who can be with us and also be a help towards our spiritual journey.

Baptism could strongly trace its biblical basis on the Gospels wherein John the Baptist have
baptized Jesus Christ in the Jordan River (Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22). In here, Jesus portray
using himself how spiritually important baptism is and initiate its reception, thus, those who follow and
believes in Him must do the same. Truly, our God is such a great leader and epitome of how one should
act and live with their faith. In the Gospel of John, it evidently reported that after being baptized, Jesus
Christ have spent some time wandering into different region in order to preach and baptized other people
He encounters with the Holy Spirit (Jn 3:22, Jn 4:1). And right before His ascension, Jesus commanded
His respective disciples to go and also make disciples in all nations and baptize them in the name of the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit (Mt 28:19).

To express the spiritual value of the sacrament of baptism, our Church utilizes different physical
signs and rituals. Firstly, the one who will receive the sacrament of baptism would be usually seen to
wear white clothes or garment that symbolizes purity of faith and shows that we resembles Christ
reflecting our new and truest identity of being a child of God. They are also being anointed with a sacred
oil implies that the Holy Spirit dwell within him/her and their hearts are now imprinted with a mission to
love Jesus and live life following His teachings. The sign of the cross is being trace on their forehead for
the remembrance that the mystery of the cross is the heart of our faith. Candles are also being lighted
through the Easter Candle that symbolizes the one true light of Christ that will guide this new believer for
the rest of his/her life. Lastly, the presence of water being poured on the one being baptized is truly the
most symbolic among others since it signifies how Jesus sacrificed His life to wash away our sins and
clean our spirits again so that we may be given a brand new life. Along with the immersion of water, the
words of baptism “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,” are
spoken which reflects God in Trinity are the source of our life as Christian.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

This particular sacrament primarily given to those people who are suffering from serious
illnesses, old age and becoming close to death. The purpose of anointing of the sick is to bring God's
sanctifying grace. Thus, the one with sickness will feel at ease because their sins are now forgiven. These
sins pertain to post-Baptism sins or those sins that we have committed upon our Christian life, compared
to sacrament of baptism in which the original sin are being cleanse. By receiving this sacrament, it
comforts the recepient's soul and strengthen his/her spirit which makes him hope and anticipate God's
healing to their illness. On the other hand, it also prevents anxiety and fear thus, preparing them to
embrace God's will and face the possibility of death. In other words, this sacrament is the preparation of
the soul for entering the kingdom of heaven with all their sins being forgiven.
 This sacrament of anointing the sick have been an early practiced evidently shown in the holy
bible. In the Gospel of James, it clearly states "Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the
church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith
will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven"
(James 5:14-15). In here, it portrays how one suffering from illness should seek priest to anoint and pray
for them. In this way, the Lord will forgive their sins and bless them with healing. The sacramentals
which perceived to be used in anointing of the sick is first, candles which are lit when the priest arrive, it
reflects Christ as the light of this world and by the presence of a lighted candle implies that Christ is
present. Second, the crucifix is also present so that the sick will feel being one with God. Most
importantly, the oil which will be anointed to the sick person, it implicates the Jesus' healing grace. In
addition, laying of hands on the sick which will show comfort and the power of God entering the illed
person.

MATRIMONY

Among the other sacraments, matrimony or marriage is the most different since it is not confered by a
priest but by a man and a woman upon each other when they both agree to be married before God and the
church. This sacrament pertains to enjoining a man and a woman to be one flesh and both share a lifelong
commitment guided by their faitful love for each other. This sacred sacrament also reflects the love of the
Lord and on the point where the wife conceives children will show God's wondrous creation. Once the
couple is married, their home becomes a domestic church, for the Church is whole and entire in a family
built on the foundation of the Sacrament of Matrimony.

The scriptural basis of the matrimony would be found on Genesis, it is reflected when God have created
the world and finally, the human in his own image and command them to fill the earth with their
offsprings. “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he
created them. God blessed them, saying: ‘Be fertile and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’” (Genesis
1: 27-28). Consequently, the creation story in Genesis also states how the union of a man and a woman
is not just a mere human institution but something God established from the very foundation of the
world. The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him”
(Genesis 2:18). "Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he
brought her to the man" (Genesis 2:22). Therefore, marriage should not be treated due respect and
faithfulness by both spouses because God created man and woman for one another to become one
flesh. The scripture taught us that, “a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the
two of them become one flesh” (Genesis 2: 24).

The sacramentals being used in a marriage ceremony are first the bible in which it reflects the
acceptance of the husband, who will soon to be the father in a household, the responsibility of leading
his family in living a spiritual life and a life anchored to God's love. Next one is the unity candle in which
similar to other sacraments, will symbolizes the light of God. It also implies one's life and as well as the
spouses being the light for other people most especially to their future family. Lastly the rings which
reflect the infinite love of the Lord just like the shape of it, having no start and an end.