Catechesis on the rites preceding baptism

On the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a scripture passage from the first book of Kings (16:29---17:16) entitled" The beginning of the prophet Elijah's mission in the reign of Ahab, king of Israel". Our treasure, which follows, is from the beginning of the treatise On the Mysteries by Saint Ambrose, bishop. Saint Ambrose (c. 340–397) was one of the greatest bishops and teachers in the history of the Catholic Church. As Bishop of Milan, he courageously defended the independence of the Church from political rulers, preached with exceptional wisdom, and cared deeply for the poor and those in need. A gifted theologian and biblical teacher, he helped explain the doctrines of the Trinity, the divinity of Christ, the sacraments, and Christian moral living, especially through his clear interpretation of Sacred Scripture. On the Mysteries is a brief work written by Saint Ambrose around AD 387 for newly baptized Christians after Easter. He wrote it to explain the deeper meaning of the sacraments they had just received. Ambrose teaches that Baptism gives new life, Confirmation strengthens believers with the Holy Spirit, and the Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood of Christ. Rooted in Scripture, the work shows that God uses visible signs to communicate invisible grace and remains an important witness to the Catholic Church's earliest sacramental teaching. The primary teaching of today's treasure from the opening of On the Mysteries, entitled "Catechesis on the Rites of Baptism," is that Baptism is not merely a symbolic ceremony but a true sacrament through which God forgives sins, gives new life, and makes us His adopted children. Saint Ambrose explains that the outward actions of the rite—such as the water, anointing, and profession of faith—communicate the invisible grace of the Holy Spirit. He teaches that through Baptism we die to sin, rise with Christ to a new life, and become members of His Church. The central message is that Baptism transforms us into new creations in Christ and calls us to live faithfully as God's holy people. The main point from our first reading is that God remains faithful to His people by raising up courageous prophets to call them back to true worship. At a time when Ahab and his wife Jezebel had led Israel into idolatry, especially the worship of Baal, Elijah boldly proclaimed God's judgment through a drought and trusted completely in the Lord's care for him. This passage teaches that God alone is the source of life and blessing, that faithfulness may require standing courageously against a corrupt culture, and that those who trust in God can rely on His providence even in the midst of hardship.