Today we have three
readings that show three different ways of healing what has torn apart or
threatens to tear apart relationships within a family or a household or a
community. Today we also will baptize
V. E. and join her to the household of faith, the Body of
Christ. These two things may not seem
related, but they are.
From the book of
Genesis we hear about the reconciliation of Jacob's son Joseph and his brothers
who nearly killed him before deciding to sell him into slavery. They had behaved so badly, because they were
jealous of their father's special love for Joseph--and because Joseph had
gloried in how he favored he was! Now,
because of severe drought and the threat of famine, they were dependent on his
good will. He didn't let them forget his
power over them, but he did not seek revenge.
He showed forgiveness, because he wanted his family preserved.
St. Paul wrote to
the Christians in the church in Roman to prevent this community from splitting
apart over eating practices and observing one day or another as holy to the
Lord. He said that no matter what your
practice is, if your purpose is to give honor and thanks to God, it's o.k. If he were to use modern ways of explaining
himself, he would say, "Hey, it's not all about you--so don't stress--and
don't write that other guy off!"
Judging each other as a good Christian, or not a good Christian--within
this community--will only take away from our job, which is to love and praise God.
And then there's
the radical forgiveness--again within the community of disciples--that Jesus
commands them to practice. The kingdom
parable depicts the king (who we can assume is God) as forgiving a debt with
enormous, unbelievable generosity of spirit.
Yet in return the king in the parable expects all in his household to
behave as he has.
Thus we can see
that in a God or Christ centered community:
We don't take revenge. We show
tolerance for those who disagree with us because we are more focused on Christ
than on ourselves. And we generously
forgive others in our community--because we have been forgiven first by God
through Christ!
So into such a
community, V. E.'s parents, God-parents, and family--including her
sister A--bring her today to receive the sacrament of baptism. Now before we give ourselves to big a pat on
the back for our perfect Christian community, we must own up to the truth. Although we seek to fulfill our baptismal
vows and be a community that focuses on Christ, sometimes we slip a bit.
Nevertheless being
brought into the Body of Christ through baptism means that with her family's
and godparents' guidance, she will find herself part of a very special
community. In this community we come to
know the values Jesus taught his disciples, and we learn how the people we care
about and who care about us try to live out those values.
Tracy Keenan, Sr.
Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, in Columbus, Ohio, wrote this in a blog
on her church's website: "Church may be anachronistic, quirky, and not
terribly exciting. And sometimes it’s
deliciously mind-blowing. Life-changing.
And often you leave better than when you came in the door.
“Church is one of
the only places where you can participate in intergenerational community that
is intentional about learning to practice love, forgiveness, social justice,
and generosity. It is one of the few
places where people actually try to love their enemies and admit when they are
wrong. Who else does that?
“It doesn’t come
naturally, and it takes a lot of support to keep trying to love the way we
believe we are loved. And. Life is hard. It is also astoundingly magnificent.
“Church is where
you learn how to recognize the powerful love of God and to find your place in
that love, how to negotiate life’s crazy turns, how to do the best you can and leave
the rest up to God.
It’s where you
learn people aren’t perfect, but they will be there for you if you let them.
It’s where you learn to accept that you’re not perfect either, and you are
deeply loved no matter what. Church life
can help you do life better."
So this day we give
thanks that we have the privilege of baptizing V. E. and welcoming
her into Christ's Body right here at St. Nicholas'. May she, and everyone who
comes into this church, find generosity, hospitality and forgiveness--with
God's help--practiced here!
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