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“I Have Called You By Name” Baptism of the Lord Sunday Sherry Lohman – Jan. 10, 2010 Isaiah 43:1-7 Last Sunday I was given the honor of baptizing our youngest grandchild, Adel, in her home church, Trinity Episcopalian. At Trinity, they use a large jug of water, holding it high above the baptismal font as they pour the water. Adel loves her baths, and I think, from her gleeful squeals, she thought she might be getting a bath. But it was a sprinkling, she got, and I was given that honor. As Methodists, along with a long list of other denominations, we believe that it doesn’t really matter where one is baptized—that there is only one baptism. For example, if you were baptized in another denomination, and then switched to the Methodist, you would not need to be re-baptized. You would need to change your membership, but the sacrament of baptism holds, regardless of where you were baptized….even if it took place at Lake McBride. How many of you remember your baptism? Do you know the date? Was anyone fully immersed? Where (body of water?) Even if you don’t remember your own baptism, perhaps you can recall the story of Jesus’ baptism. If you haven’t already noticed on your bulletin, today is the day we celebrate Jesus’ baptism. This date always follows after Epiphany, (the 12 days of Christmas counted after Jesus’ birth, and the coming of the three wise men). In our NT, (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22), Luke’s gospel tells the story of John the Baptist. John was a little “out there,” in some respects. Imagine this large man, a little unkempt, and living in the wilderness, surviving on locusts and honey. In many ways, in spite of his eccentricities, folks were hopeful about John. His message was hopeful. He spoke about preparing the way of the Lord. This was a time when people were in need of some good news—and John seemed to hold some key. They wondered….was he the Christ—the savior? Would he be the one to bring justice? Maybe this burly man wasn’t what they had pictured in their mind’s eye, but he must have embodied a fair amount of charisma; some draw to call them into new possibilities. When John got wind of this, he refuted their ideas, saying very clearly, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” (Luke 3:15-16). I understand John’s words concerning unworthiness. Whenever I officiate with baptisms, I know that my part, the words, prayers and the sprinkling of water---they are all outward signs…human participation. The inward act, the dousing of the Spirit, is God’s work. We baptize with water, but it is God who baptizes with the Holy Spirit---fire—that burns in our souls to shape us into Godly form of truth, justice, peace and love./ Jesus was baptized later in his life; he was an adult. Luke’s gospel says that “…when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”” (Luke 3:21-22). Don’t you love that image of the dove falling over Jesus. You may remember the story of Noah sending out the dove after the flood, to see if it would return for a place to land. (Gen. 8:8-12). In the book of Leviticus, (12:8), we learn that a pair of doves could be used for a ritual purification, instead of a lamb, if a family couldn’t afford one. Doves are actually a species of the pigeon family. Pigeons are a little less noted—ordinary, and with a reputation of being unclean. The image of the dove brings a sense of purpose, peace, guidance toward God. If you’re saying something to yourself, like, “OK Sherry, tell us something new,” then stay with me. It’s coming. There’s something more in our sacrament of baptism that we may not really attend to. Scripture always teaches us, and the more we look, the deeper our understanding. I’d like to read from Acts (8:14-17). “Now when the apostles at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them. The two went down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit (for as yet the Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus). Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” This leaves us in a bit of a conundrum. This paragraph reports that people had turned away from their pagan Gods, left them behind and now believed in God. It claims they had been baptized, in name, but it appears that they had not yet been baptized in Spirit./ What’s missing, here?/ Is it possible that Peter and John, or one of the other apostles really needed to go to Samaria to lay their hands on people—to help in the anointing of God’s Spirit? And yet, doesn’t that, in a way, negate what John the Baptist talked about, and what I said, earlier….that what we do are outward signs….what happens inwardly is God’s doing. Would God withhold the Spirit for lack of the laying on of hands? So what’s going on here? Clearly, it appears that there’s something blocking the Spirit’s admission. What is it? If it’s not God’s withholding, and not due to the lack of the apostle’s laying on of hands, what’s left? Who’s in charge here, anyhow?!/ The likely answer is “God,” right? Listen to this last line from Acts to you one more time. “Then Peter and John laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 8:17) Did you get it? They received the Holy Spirit. In other words, everyone has done their part—it’s us--we play a part in this sacrament. God gives, but we must receive the gift of God’s Spirit./ Let me illustrate this another way. You were probably given a number of gifts at Christmas. My guess is you opened them. You didn’t just leave the gift under the tree. You acknowledged the gift; accepted it with joy and gratitude. You may have written a note of thanks, telling the giver how much you appreciate it and how you will use it. Let’s turn it around, now. Have you ever given a gift that’s been rejected? We probably try to give gifts that we think people will appreciate. If you gave someone a gift, and they didn’t acknowledge it---how would you feel?/ The columnist, Dear Abbey, hears, frequently, from parents, friends and relatives about sending their loved ones a gift and never receiving a word of thanks. It’s a problem! (We had a rule in our house; you can’t use the gift, wear it, eat it, read it or listen to it, until you’ve sent a thank you note.) I suppose at some point, we have all received some type of a gift that we might stockpile in our closet and save for re-gifting to someone who might actually use it. Perhaps the gift is not really our style, or we have no interest in it, or maybe it’s identical to the one we already have. It’s not something we need or even want./// I wonder if we might sometimes, without too much thought, reject the Spirit in the same manner./ If we don’t receive the Spirit, then we are rejecting it. It is our choice. We may give little thought to whether or not God’s Spirit is something we really need, much less, desire./ Seriously, when did you last anticipate, plead and pray to be filled with God’s Spirit, as if it were a gift, just waiting to be unwrapped; received by you? God’s Spirit is a gift we can’t afford to ignore or stockpile in our closets. God’s Holy Spirit waits for your acceptance and receiving—every day—not just at baptism. When we first become baptized, we are saying, “God, we want your Spirit.” It is opening the lines; giving our permission. As parents of infants and younger children, we commit our children to God. Later, they confirm this for themselves. So, you might be wondering, what happens if we block God’s spirit? Does God not care about us? Will God leave us, to fend for ourselves? What if you’re never baptized, then what? Does that mean you go straight to hell? (Funny how folks like to engage in hypothetical arguments). God promised to be with us, always. God won’t leave us. But let me ask you this. Have you ever been pigeon-holed? That’s slang for someone who is easily deceived or duped. But there’s another meaning. Listen to this. “It is an intentional, setting aside/ignoring, indefinitely.” Your setting aside; not God’s. Hear, again, the words from Isaiah, (43:1,4) “…I have called you by name, you are mine….For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you. Because you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you. Receive the gift from your creator. Remember your baptism; receive the holy fire. |