In the 1987 romantic comedy, “Moonstruck,” there’s a wonderful scene that teaches us about the importance of identity.
Rose has found out that her husband, Cosmo, has a mistress. Soon after, we find Rose dining alone at an Italian restaurant where she witnesses a young woman throw a glass of water into the face of the older man she is dining with, an obvious breakup. Rose, feeling pity for the man (Perry), invites him to dine with her, and after dinner he walks her home. As they approach her house, Perry hopes that she will invite him inside; but Rose says to him, “I’m not going to invite you in, because I know who I am.”
Even though Rose’s husband has a mistress, she knows her identity and she takes it very seriously. She knows she’s a married woman; and because she knows her identity she’s able to resist the temptation to seek comfort in another relationship.
What would have happened if Rose forgot her identity? It would have been easier for her to give into temptation. It can happen to all of us. Mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, sons and daughters can forget their identities and lose sight of the importance of family life. Priests and religious can forget their identities and lose sight of the importance of their ministries.
This Sunday, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. On this solemnity, we are reminded of our true identity and the importance of living out this identity. When Jesus is baptized, the Father’s voice is heard saying, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus is the beloved son of the Father. Jesus, knowing and owning his identity, was always faithful to the Father. His relationship with the Father was primary. From this relationship flowed his identity, and from his identity flowed his mission.
We, too, by virtue of our baptism are beloved sons and daughters of the Father.
So what happens when we know our identity as children of God and live out this identity?
• We make spending time with God a priority. As his beloved children, we spend time getting to know him through study and prayer.
• We find our happiness and security in him. When we know our identity, we don’t look to other things to make us happy. Our primary happiness is found in God.
• We have a clear sense of our mission and purpose. Knowing that we’re children of God, we live our lives to serve God and others. Everything that we do flows from our relationship with him.
So let’s thank God for our baptism by which we were made his beloved children, and let’s pledge to remember our true identity and to live out our identity as his children each day.
Father Michael Najim is Spiritual Director of Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Providence, as well as Catholic Chaplain at LaSalle Academy, Providence.
