Christian Art | The Mystery Of Baptism | The Newly Baptized
Office Of Readings | Week 15, Tuesday, Ordinary Time | A Reading From The Treatise Of Saint Ambrose On The Mysteries | Everything That Happened To Them Was A Figure
‘Everything that happened to them was a figure.’
Historical And Liturgical Setting
Saint Ambrose’s On the Mysteries was addressed to newly baptized Christians in fourth-century Milan, many of whom received baptism at the Easter Vigil. This period was marked by a heightened catechetical emphasis on post-baptismal mystagogy — instructing the newly initiated in the mysteries they had just experienced. The baptistery in Milan itself, where many of these catechumens would have been baptized, is octagonal, symbolising new creation and eternal life.
Ambrose compares the deacons and bishop to Old Testament figures: deacons as Levites ministering in the temple and the bishop as the high priest presiding over sacred rites. This analogy roots Christian baptism in continuity with the worship of ancient Israel, yet proclaims its fulfilment in Christ.
Scriptural Imagery And Typology
Ambrose’s exposition draws on rich biblical typology to reveal baptism as the fulfilment of God’s saving work in history:
- Creation and the Spirit hovering over the waters (Genesis 1:2): Ambrose sees the Spirit’s presence at creation as the archetype of the Spirit’s action in baptism. Just as the Spirit brought order and life to the primal waters, so the Spirit now recreates the baptized person into a new creation.
- The flood and Noah’s ark (Genesis 6–9): The flood is presented as a purifying deluge, prefiguring the waters of baptism that wash away sin. Noah’s ark becomes a type of the Church, the vessel of salvation in a sinful world. The dove returning with an olive branch symbolises the Spirit bringing peace and reconciliation after judgment.
- The wood of the cross: For Ambrose, the wood on which Christ was crucified is intimately linked to the wood of the ark, signalling that it is through Christ’s Passion that salvation is accomplished.
This typological reading was common in patristic thought, where the Old Testament was seen not as a separate narrative but as a preparation for and prophecy of Christ and the sacraments.
The Theology Of Baptism And The Holy Spirit
Ambrose insists that what appears as water is not simply natural water but a vehicle for divine grace, because the Spirit is present and active. He warns against a superficial, merely visible understanding of the rite: ‘Look not at what is visible but at what is invisible.’ This sacramental realism affirms that God is truly present and acting — it is not the bishop or deacons who effect the transformation but the Spirit working through them.
The dove, as Ambrose notes, is a symbol of the Spirit’s peaceful and renewing presence. In patristic thought, the dove also recalls Christ’s baptism in the Jordan (Matthew 3:16), where the Spirit descended in the form of a dove, inaugurating Christ’s public ministry and manifesting the Trinity.
Ambrose also stresses the moral dimension of baptism: sin corrupts and turns away the Spirit’s grace, as indicated by the passage from Genesis where God declares, ‘My Spirit shall not remain among men, because they are flesh.’ Therefore, baptism is both a gift and a summons to live according to the Spirit.
A Reading From The Treatise Of Saint Ambrose On The Mysteries | Everything That Happened To Them Was A Figure
The Apostle teaches you that our fathers were all covered by the cloud, all passed through the sea, all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. Further, Moses in his canticle says: You sent your spirit, and the sea overwhelmed them. You observed that in this crossing by the Hebrews there was already a symbol of holy baptism. The Egyptian perished; the Hebrew escaped. What else is the daily lesson of this sacrament than that guilt is drowned, and error destroyed, while goodness and innocence pass over unharmed?
You are taught that our fathers were covered by the cloud, a cloud of blessing that cooled the fire of bodily passions. A cloud of blessing: it is with a cloud of blessing that the Holy Spirit overshadows those whom he comes to visit. The Holy Spirit came at last upon the Virgin Mary, and the power of the most High overshadowed her, when she conceived for all mankind him who is redemption. This great miracle was prefigured through Moses. If then the Spirit was prefigured, is he not now present in truth, for Scripture tells you that the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ?
Marah was a spring of bitter water. When Moses threw wood into it, its water became sweet. Water, you see, is of no avail for future salvation without the proclamation of the Lord’s cross. But when it has been consecrated through the saving mystery of the cross, it is then ready for use in the laver of the Spirit and in the cup of salvation. Therefore, as Moses in his role of prophet threw wood into the spring of Marah, so also the priest sends out into the fountain of baptism the proclamation of the Lord’s cross, and the water becomes sweet, ready for the giving of grace.
Do not then believe only what the eyes of your body tell you. What is not seen is here more truly seen, for what is seen belongs to time but what is not seen belongs to eternity. What is not comprehended by the eyes but is seen by the mind and the soul is seen in a truer and deeper sense.
Finally, learn from the readings we have gone through from the books of the Kings. Naaman was a Syrian; he was a leper, and could not be healed by anyone. Then a girl from among the captives said that there was a prophet in Israel who could cleanse him from the disease of leprosy. Taking gold and silver, we are told, he went to see the king of Israel. The king, on learning the reason for his coming, rent his garments, saying that it was really to find an excuse against him, for what he was being asked was beyond the power of a king.
Elisha, however, told the king to send the Syrian to him, and he would learn that there was a God in Israel. When he came, Elisha ordered him to bathe seven times in the river Jordan. Then Naaman began to reflect that the rivers of his own country had better waters, and that he had often bathed in them, and never been cleansed of his leprosy. This gave him pause, and he refused to obey the prophet’s instructions. But on the advice and persuasion of his servants he yielded and bathed, and was instantly made clean. He realized then that it is not waters that make clean but grace.
Here was a man who doubted before being made whole. You are already made whole, and so ought not to have any doubt.
Prayer With Jesus
God of creation and redemption,
You have made us anew by water and the Holy Spirit.
Grant that we, who have been baptized into Christ,
May live as faithful members of His body,
Free from sin and full of peace.
Let Your Spirit hover over the waters of our hearts,
Bringing order where there is chaos and light where there is darkness.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Glossary Of Christian Terms
Catechesis: Religious instruction given to catechumens preparing for baptism.
Mystagogy: Instruction given after baptism to explain the sacraments newly received.
Typology: A method of interpreting Scripture where events, persons, or institutions in the Old Testament prefigure those in the New.
Pneumatology: The branch of theology dealing with the Holy Spirit.
Sacramental realism: The belief that the sacraments effect what they signify; they are not mere symbols but convey divine grace.
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One thing that emerges here is how understanding of Christ’s meaning develops and matures with time and through recollection. The people have flocked to hear Jesus’ teaching, and in Jerusalem he has a very attentive audience – of ‘all’ the people. Jesus continues, however, to speak in a veiled way, his parables deliberately concealing a part of his meaning, relating to his own divinity, to his accomplishing the inauguration of the Kingdom of God, and the great self-sacrifice to expiate our sins he is called to make [ … ]
Christian Art | Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible KJV The Gospel Of Saint John 14: 1-7 | King James Audio Bible YouTube: Connection With The Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible The Gospels are not just a collection of stories or teachings, but a window into the life of Jesus. By reading and reflecting on the Gospels, we gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus was and what he came to do. As we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus was a man of great compassion and love. Jesus showed mercy to the outcasts and the marginalized, and he offered healing and hope to those who were in need. He also taught with authority, challenging the religious leaders of his day and offering a new way of living based on love and service. But the Gospels are not just a history lesson. They are also an invitation for us to enter into a relationship with Jesus. By reading and meditating on the Gospels, we can come to know Jesus more personally and deeply. We can learn from his example and seek to follow in his footsteps. So we may be encouraged to read the Gospels, perhaps starting with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John, as we read paying attention to how Jesus interacted with others and how he responded to different situations. We may ask ourselves what you can learn from his words and actions, and how we can apply them to our own lives. And as we read, we can allow ourselves to be drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus. There truly is an historical Jesus. May the Gospels be a source of guidance, inspiration, and transformation for us all. How Much In The Gospels Is Historical, And How Much Is Myth, Legend, Trope, Figurative Thinking? It is difficult to say with certainty how much of the Gospels is historical in the modern sense of the word and how much is myth, legend, trope, or figurative thinking. The Gospels were written some years after the events they describe, and they were written from the perspective of the early Christian community. This means that the Gospels may contain a mix of historical facts and interpretation, as well as elements of myth, legend, and figurative thinking. That being said, scholars believe that the Gospels contain a good deal of historical information. For example, the Gospels describe specific places and events, such as the places where Jesus preached and the events of his trial and Crucifixion. These details suggest that the writers of the Gospels had access to historical information and intended to provide an accurate account of what happened. On the other hand, the Gospels also contain elements that are not seen by all as historical, howsoever this goes to the root of the faith, such as the miracles performed by Jesus and the accounts of his resurrection. Some see these as legends or myths that were added to the Gospels to help convey the message of the early Christian community. The question of how much of the Gospels is historical and how much is myth, legend, or figurative thinking is complex. What is important is that we approach the Gospels with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the stories and teachings they contain. We are in the Gospels in conversation with God – and with the many people who have had such faith and conversations – as with the historical Jesus. Why Do The Gospels Say Were People Afraid Of Jesus? There are several reasons why people may have been afraid of Jesus, according to the Gospels. One reason is that Jesus was a powerful and charismatic figure who challenged the religious and political authorities of his time. He spoke out against corruption and injustice, and he called on people to repent and turn to God. This type of behaviour was seen as threatening by those in positions of power, and they may have been afraid of losing their influence or authority. Another reason is that Jesus performed many miracles, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. These miracles were seen as evidence of his divine power, and they may have made people afraid of him. Some people may have been afraid of being healed or possessed by Jesus, while others may have been afraid of what would happen if they did not believe in him. Finally, some people may have been afraid of Jesus because of the prophecies and expectations of the coming of a messiah. The Jews of Jesus’ time were looking for a saviour who would deliver them from oppression and establish a kingdom of God on earth. When Jesus arrived on the scene, he may have been seen as a threat to the status quo, and some people may have been afraid of what he might do. Might The Fear Be Related To The Fear Of God – The Injunction To Fear God? Yes, it is possible that the fear of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels may be related to the fear of God. In the Old Testament, the fear of God is often used to describe a deep reverence and awe for God, as well as a sense of humility and obedience in the face of his greatness. This fear of God is seen as a positive and necessary quality for a faithful believer, and it is often linked to the idea of fearing God’s punishment or judgement. In the New Testament, the fear of God is also mentioned, but it is often portrayed in a more positive light. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells his followers not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, but to fear God, who can destroy both body and soul (Luke 12:4-5). This suggests that the fear of God is not just about punishment, but about a deep respect for […]
One of the leading Pharisees has invited Jesus to his house to share a meal. There are several occasions in the Gospels when Jesus is invited by Pharisees to share a meal. Perhaps they are curious, as now we are told, ‘they watched him,’ perhaps through malice. We are not told how a man with dropsy could enter the house of a leader of the Pharisees. Here he is, though, waiting to be cured. Once more, the question of healing on the Sabbath is raised, and with it the issue of the Pharisees’ hypocrisy and the absolutely critical fact of the divinity of Jesus, granting him authority to reinterpret the Sabbath and so drawing him ever closer to the cross [ .. ]
