Identity and Mission through Baptism

A few years ago, while working at a diocesan office of worship, I received a phone call. The caller had seen an infant baptism at his parish that Sunday and he had a suggestion: he thought it would be a good idea if we said the same words after a baptism that were said after Jesus' baptism: "You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased." The more I thought about it, the more I realized that he had a point (even if I couldn't single-handedly change the Roman Rite): we need to name the newly baptized belovedness and assure them of their identity as a child of God.
       Of course, the other part of the story of Jesus' baptism was how the Holy Spirit came upon him and set him off on his mission and ministry. This, too, is something that we need to do at baptisms: we need to give the newly baptized their mission.
       In looking at the Rite of Baptism, both of those pieces are there in the prayer that is said right before anointing the child with the Sacred Chrism. The prayer is, "God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has freed you from sin, given you new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed you into his holy people. He now anoints you with the chrism of salvation. As Christ was anointed priest, prophet, and king, so may you live always as a member of his body, sharing everlasting life."
       In this prayer, we receive our identity as a member of Christ's body, a member of that person to whom it was said, "You are my beloved Son, with you I am well pleased." Being a member of that body also means sharing in the dignity and responsibility of participating in Jesus' servant ministry of priest, prophet, and king. This is an awesome responsibility, but one that is possible because of the strength we receive by being beloved sons and daughters of God.