Today we welcome three new people into
the household of God. Today we baptize with water in the name of the
Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, three people and seal them with
holy oil marking them as Christ's own for ever. Today we sign the
adoption papers for Rafael, Alexandra, and Randel. Today these three
young people take their first steps in their walk with Christ. Today
their journey begins.
As with any first steps there will be
stumbles and falls. As with any journey there will be joys and
disappointments, awe-inspiring vistas and boring scenery, wrong
turns, set backs, sorrows, and joys. These are things we have all
experienced, and things we continue to experience. Some of these
will be shared and some of them will be specific to each child.
As I've said, baptism is that act by
which we are adopted into the household of God. Today's lessons
don't really lend themselves to baptism, but there are a few things
we can take away. The Collect for today makes a petition that,
through the fullness of God's grace, we may run to obtain God's
promises and become partakers of a heavenly treasure. I like that
imagery, especially for today.
Paul often talks about the promises of
God, beginning with the patriarchs and being fulfilled in Christ's
resurrection. Through our baptism we also become partakers of those
promises. Beginning with our baptism we run to obtain those
promises.
Baptism, though, is not the finish
line. Baptism is the starting line. Baptism is where our Christian
journey begins, not where it ends. Those who are baptized are
grafted into the body of Christ. Those new members will draw
strength and nourishment from this body – from us, from the Church,
and from Christ himself.
During today's service all baptized
Christians will renew their own vows by reciting the Baptismal
Covenant. Do you believe in God the Father? Do you believe in God
the Son? Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? Those, along with
five other behavioral questions outline what we believe are how we
should live lives grounded in the gospel. We should use this
covenant as the basis for everything we do – from regular worship
to respecting the dignity of every human being.
In the passage from Philippians Paul
lays out his form, of sorts, of a baptismal covenant. Be of the same
mind, have the same love, do nothing from selfish ambition, look to
the interests of others. Do these things because this is what Christ
did. He didn't see himself as better than anyone, but he humbled
himself and became obedient. And because of that obedience, God
exalted him.
Our baptism doesn't make us better than
anyone else. Our baptism allows us to empty ourselves, to have all
our sin washed away, to be cleansed, and to be reborn as an obedient
child of God.
That sinless bit, though, may not last
long; but being sinless isn't the point. The point is that we have
been reborn as a new creation in Christ. If you haven't noticed, new
creations begin small – a seed, a sapling, a puppy, a baby – and
grow over time.
Today we welcome three new creations
into the world. Today we welcome three new members into the
household of God. Today these three young people – Rafael,
Alexandra, and Randel – begin their journey of running to obtain
God's promises. Today these three people's lives will be bound
together in the life of Christ who took the form of a human to show
the rest of us what a life lived in total relationship with God could
look like. Today these three people's lives will also be bound up
with us, the parishioners of St. John's, as we help them along on
their journey.
Today we celebrate a baptism – three
of them, actually. Today would be a good time to reflect on your own
Christian journey. Today would be a good time to re-read the
Baptismal Covenant – how are you doing at regular worship, honest
repentance, evangelism, loving your neighbor, and working for
justice?
Baptisms are a time for celebration,
but they are also a time to remember that they come at the beginning
of our journey. And for that reason, they are a good opportunity for
us to hit the Reset button as we continue running to obtain the
promises of God.
Amen.
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