The First Sunday After the Epiphany:
The Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ
Thoroughly Baptized
When we baptize in the Episcopal Church, we do a thorough job. That’s because we want the baptized to identify with Jesus at his baptism. At his baptism Jesus knew that he was God’s beloved. At his baptism the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus and he was never the same after that. At his baptism Jesus began to live into his public ministry and to discover the reasons why he is who he is. Jesus was baptized publicly, and we baptize everyone publicly, at a service such as this one here today. If the Bishop were present, I would step aside and he would administer the baptism because baptism is such a big deal that the chief pastor of the diocese presides at the ceremony if possible.
So, when we baptize, we want the baptismal candidate to know that he or she is God’s beloved. We pray fervently that God will fill them with his holy and life-giving Spirit and God does not disappoint. Holy Baptism in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is Christian initiation. It is “full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church.” Holy Baptism gives us privileges with God, because at baptism we are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked at Christ’s own forever.
When anyone is baptized, we require that they be sponsored by one or more baptized persons. We want them to know from the get-go that they are not alone – that they are supported by a community of faith. In fact, after we pour water over their heads three times. We “welcome the newly baptized” with these words: “We receive you into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.”
When a person is baptized, there is great rejoicing in the presence of the holy angels of God. That’s because God is happy and I believe, even excited about our baptism, and God never gets over it. “The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.” Therefore, if you have ever been baptized in any Christian denomination in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, the Episcopal Church will not baptize you again. We would consider your baptism fully valid and as such you are welcome to participate in Holy Eucharist by receiving the bread and the wine – the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Once we have been baptized, we never quite get “dried off.” Baptism has a residual effect, and in the Episcopal Church, we make sure that it does. Every time someone else gets baptized, all God’s children say “amen” and renew once again their own baptismal vows. This is one of my favorite things to do as a Christian. I find that it strengthens my own faith and resolve, and brings a sense of refreshment to my soul.
By now maybe you may be wondering, “If this is such a big-deal event, what do you do to prepare for it?” So glad you asked. There is a preparation time, but in our fast-paced world we have shortened that time compared to the olden days. In the olden days, meaning first-second century AD, the Church required a preparation time of one to two years. If you wanted to get baptized, the church would take you under its wing and allow you to attend the worship services. However, you could never even witness a consecration of the bread and the wine until you were baptized – no, when it came time for that part of the service you would have been whisked away for classes on what was to be expected of you as a baptized person. They would have said that you were a “catechumen” – an adult preparing for baptism. We still say that although the preparation time is weeks rather than years.
We no longer bar catechumens from observing Holy Eucharist, but some of the traditions of the early days have been preserved. Repentance is one of them. Repentance was a very precise term to the leaders of the early church. It meant making a one-hundred-eighty-degree turn from present life to the new life. I’ve mentioned this before: that those about to be baptized would face west and renounce the devil, then physically turn a one-eighty and face east to publicly accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. As I have pointed out in other sermons, in calling Jesus “Lord” the early Christians risked their lives, because they could no longer burn that yearly pinch of incense to Caesar and get their certificate that said they called him “Lord.”
So, here is how the Episcopal Church has preserved that part of the ceremony. We ask the candidate these six questions (BCP 302-303). After the three renouncements, please notice the word “turn” in the fourth question:
Do you renounce Satan and all the spiritual forces of wickedness that rebel against God?
I renounce them.
Do you renounce the evil powers of this world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God?
I renounce them.
Do you renounce all sinful desires that draw you from the love of God?
I renounce them.
Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your Savior?
I do.
Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?
I do.
Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?
I do.
Then we get to take our own vows as witnesses to this ceremony:
Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?
We will.
Then we all affirm our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed, and enter into a covenant with these vows:
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good news of God in Christ?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?
I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?
I will, with God’s help.
After that, we pray prayers for the candidates and for each other, and then, finally, we pour fresh water into the baptismal font, bless the water, and baptize the candidates. After that we have communion. It’s a beautiful thing, and I can’t wait for our first baptisms in this church. And now a word from our sponsor: the Bishop will be here on Sunday, February 1. If you or someone you know is interested in baptism on that date, I would love to talk with you about it.
Oh, yes, what about infant baptism? When an infant is presented for baptism, the adult sponsors take these same vows and enter into this covenant on behalf of the infant. They also take vows to be responsible for seeing that the child they present is brought up in the Christian faith and life, and that they will by their prayers and witness help that child to grow into the full stature of Christ. In other words, they will take the child to church and eventually that child is expected to make a full, public confession of faith as an adult. That ceremony is called “confirmation” and only the bishop can confirm anyone. But that’s another sermon.
So, there you have it. Baptism leaves an indelible mark on your soul because it permanently identifies you with Jesus Christ and his body, the church, for which he died and rose again. Who could ever get over that? Amen.
In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Vicar, Holy Cross Church Episcopal
Billings, Montana
406-208-7314
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