Sermons

January 7th 2007

Blessing and Call

Reverend Linda Saffrey

That God is present as Holy Spirit says something about the freedom of God. God is not a commodity. God goes where God chooses. I remember hearing about a child in Sunday school, who was being taught the story of Jesus’ baptism. The teacher described the moment when the heavens opened, and said that it meant that because of baptism, we can get to God. The child thought that this was scary because if baptism means we can get to God – God can get to us!

I remember my baptism – not quite true, I remember how I felt about it. I was somewhat embarrassed to be baptized along with my four younger siblings. Already, at the age of almost 8 years old, I had formed the impression that baptism was for babies. The other embarrassing thing was that five of us were being baptized at once – it seemed that maybe my parents had neglected something. Twenty-five years later I was confirmed. I was well-past the expected age of confirmation some time in your early teens. Today, having done so many things out of order in my life, I can tell a different story about how God, who loves us from beginning to end, comes looking for us. I can tell you that something else was going on – not baptism or confirmation simply because it is what we do, is expected of us as Christians, or a tradition, but because it is powerful work, initiated by the Spirit of God. The Spirit brought my parents to the church in their community after years away. The Spirit at work in my life brought me back to church and said, when I expected to hear something else, “you belong”.

I know that the Spirit is at work in the lives of these folks. Baptism and re-affirmation of faith is both an expression of what has been happening for them and to them in their faith journey, and the means of God’s grace. We can only anticipate, with joy, what is yet to unfold.

I’ve always appreciated the emphasis that Henri Nouwen placed on loving ourselves, and living as people who are deeply loved. He once said that the great call is to put our brokenness under the blessing, to live it as people of whom good things are being said. At baptism we are called by name – our name is “loved-one”. It is a term of endearment, a message of belonging, a name which means that we are empowered, equipped, serving, and doing what God does.

Daniel Clendenin reminds us that all four Gospels tell the story of Jesus’ baptism by John. (That Jesus was baptized was a source of embarrassment for the early church) Jesus’ baptism inaugurated his public ministry by identifying with what Luke describes as "all the people." He allied himself with the faults and failures, pains and problems, of all the broken and hurting people who had flocked to the Jordan river. By wading into the waters with them he took his place beside us and among us…With his baptism Jesus openly and decisively declared that he stands shoulder to shoulder with us in our fears and anxieties, and declares that God’s abundant mercy is available directly and immediately to every person. It was not the private preserve doled out by the temple establishment. The signs at Jesus’ baptism – the dove, and the voice – made manifest that, by the power of the Spirit, Jesus embodies God's coming kingdom, a realm that welcomes people without exception or condition. (from Journey with Jesus: Notes to Myself, Daniel B. Clendenin)

In the early church new converts were received into communing fellowship following a time of preparation – usually during the Season of Lent, or Advent. This was one of the most sacred moments for the whole community because of the connection between baptism and the giving of the Spirit. What we do here today is not simply a ritual or initiation ceremony, as people are received/welcomed/join the church not a commodity which can be bought or sold.

One belongs to God – whether individual, household or nation
One is commissioned for unique/special vocation – as servant, agent of God’s reign. Someone has said that Jesus’ followers are also commissioned to be subjects of God’s rule and empowered as agents of reconciliation. We can say with certainty - the divine presence was on Jesus – the same Spirit is on the followers!

In our baptismal formula we emphasize: One baptism – one church – one people of God – blessed by the one Spirit, yet each follower is called to live out their baptismal faith in community. Baptism is the work God does, God’s mark is upon us, yet (unless special circumstances, matter of life and death) we are baptized into a congregation. This is an exciting day for Emmanuel-Howard Park United Church. The Spirit is moving here!

Yesterday people gathered to celebrate Epiphany. Less noteworthy – my dog, Belle’s 13th birthday. On my settlement charge, we were housetraining our puppy by taking her outside every time. We tramped down a path in the deep snow. As spring came, patches of ground appeared. It was strange to notice our dog chasing after the shrinking snow to do her business. When all the snow was gone, she had to change, but it was also - freedom. Dogs, churches, people are creatures of habit, resistant to change, slow to change – yet the Spirit has been working in you/me/and in this congregation. Like the coming of spring – we are now going places.

Dennis Bratcher, at The Christian Resource Institute "rather than using end-of-the-world kinds of apocalyptic imagery, Luke is more concerned with emphasizing the newness that is coming into the world in the present as a result of the coming of Jesus…heaven opening is really the inauguration, not only of Jesus ministry as the Christ, but also of a new way of God’s working in the world through the Holy Spirit active in the Church."

Every time we gather at the font it is a celebration of who God is and to whom we belong. Thanks be to God.

Amen.