Describe a service of baptism in a tradition with which you are familiar
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In the times of John the Baptist, being baptised symbolized repentance.
In today's ceremony the full significance of water can be seen most clearly in full immersion, where a person dies to sin and rises again to share a new life with Christ.
Fire can also be very useful; for giving light and cooking, and like water it can also be very destructive or used as a signal. There are a lot of references in the bible to fire, in the call of Moses, as a burning bush symbolizing the presence of God.
Jesus said: " I am the light of the world, anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, he will have the light of life" and John the Baptist said of Jesus: "I Baptise you with water for repentance, but the one who follows me will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
The fire of a candle reminds us to let the light of Christ shine through. It symbolizes Christ's love. When the Baptismal candle is lit from the Paschal; the Parents are asked to keep the flame burning in the child's heart by praying with them and by taking them to mass so that when the child grows up he can be an example to others by living a life of generosity and mercy like Jesus.
In the Old Testament, oil was used when altars were being consecrated, and it was used for anointing priests, prophets and kings, as well as dead bodies. In the New Testam ...
