A Heart of Purity
Matthew 3:13-17
January 12, 13, 2008

One of my Christmas gifts from my wife was the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Gilead, by Marilynne Robinson. The book is a wonderful collection of memoirs that were written by an aging minister to his very young son. The stories are filled with lots of tales about preachers and preachers’ kids and life in the church. Since my father was a preacher and I have been the father of three preacher’s kids, I have really enjoyed the book. Some of the tales are humorous—and will bring you to laughter. Some are heart-breaking—and will bring you to tears. But many of the memoirs are theologically profound and poignant. As he reflects upon his life and ministry, the pastor shares some thoughts about baptism. After assisting at a person’s baptism, he often considered questions like these: “What have I done? What does it mean?” He says, “Those were questions that came to me often, not because I felt less certain I had done something that did mean something.” “But because no matter how much I thought and read and prayed, I felt outside the mystery of it.” “There is a reality in blessing, which I take baptism to be, primarily.” “It doesn’t enhance sacredness, but it acknowledges it, and there is a power in that.” “I have felt it pass through me, so to speak.” “The sensation is of really knowing (somebody), I mean really feeling its mysterious life and your own mysterious life at the same time.”

Reading Gilead has encouraged me to reflect more deeply about my own life and ministry. If I were to write a book of memoirs for my PK’s, what would I tell them? What would I tell them about life in the church? What are the things that are important to me? What are the things that I believe are important to God? What would I tell them about baptism?

DURING THE SEASON OF EPIPHANY, WE REMEMBER THE STORY OF THE MAGI—AND WE ALSO RECALL THE BAPTISM OF JESUS. Our church family is made up of folks from many different faith backgrounds and traditions, so we’re aware that there are different ways to think about baptism. Some people believe that the time of baptism is a saving moment in which the person being baptized accepts the love and forgiveness of God. Some people affirm those kinds of ideas, but also recognize baptism as a time of change. Some would say that the act of baptism is the most important moment in a person’s faith journey.
Others folks see baptism as more of a new beginning, a new birth of sorts. Many feel that in the waters of baptism, God lays claim on our lives. Others agree, but would also point out that we often spend the rest of our lives trying to figure out what that means. Some people feel that when we are baptized, we have “arrived.” They’ll say, “I’ll be baptized and join the church as soon as I get my life in order.” Others recognize, of course, that if that is what we are waiting for, we will never be baptized or join the Church. Baptism is not something we earn, nor is it proof that we have found all the answers. Baptism is a gift from God, a sign of grace.

In today’s text from Matthew, baptism marks a new beginning for Jesus—the commencement of his ministry. Even more than that, some ultimate questions seem to be answered when he is with John the Baptist in the Jordan River! What an awe-inspiring story! The heavens open! The Spirit of God descends like a dove! The voice of God says, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased!” I suspect that most of us would like to think something like that happens when we are baptized. And most of us have recognized that our journey of faith, much like Jesus’ journey, continues to unfold long after our baptism. Every day—we try to discern what our baptism means in our daily living. Every day—we try to understand what it means to be a child of God. Every day—we try to know more fully what it means to be claimed by God in the waters of baptism.

Do you remember your baptism? Obviously, if you have not been baptized it will be difficult to remember what hasn’t happened! And if you were baptized as an infant, unless you have an incredibly good memory, I suspect you don’t recall the important event either. But sometimes the story is remembered and passed along. One family remembers these creative words from a pastor—said to the baby—but loudly enough for everybody to hear. “Little sister, by this act of baptism, we welcome you to a journey that will take your whole life.” “This isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of God’s experiment with your life.” “What God will make of you, we know not.” “Where God will take you, surprise you, we cannot say.” “This we do know and this we say—God is with you.” And God will be with us as we live out our baptism!

If you were baptized as a child or youth or adult, do you remember any of the details? Were you a part of a baptism “class?” Where did your baptism take place—in the church, in a river, elsewhere? Who baptized you? What were you thinking about? How did you feel after it was over? Did it make a difference in the way you acted or behaved? What do you remember about your baptism? All of our stories are significant—and some are more memorable than others. Some of you who are historians may recall a particular baptism performed by St. Patrick, whose preaching often inspired hundreds of people to be baptized. One day a prince of Munster, Aengus, heard Patrick preach and was moved to profess Christ and be baptized. A crowd gathered ‘round to witness the baptism. Patrick often carried a bishop’s crozier—a long staff which usually had some kind of religious symbol on the top. And the crozier often had a point on the end so that the bishop’s hands could be free to read or perform baptisms—whatever. As he was preparing to baptize Aengus, apparently he stuck the crosier into the ground just beside him—and accidentally through the foot of poor Aengus! Patrick was concentrating on what he was doing and proceeded with the baptism. The prince never cried out or moaned. He simply became very pale. Patrick baptized him and then realized what he had done. He asked the prince: “Why didn’t you say something? Your foot is bleeding and you’ll be lame.” Remembering the experiences of Jesus, Aengus said: “I just thought that was a part of the ceremony.”
The story may be true or apocryphal—but it is definitely memorable—and I am glad the practice did not catch on in the Church!
DO YOU REMEMBER YOUR BAPTISM? HAS YOUR BAPTISM CHANGED YOUR LIFE? Mother Teresa has been in the news a lot again because she was at the top of the list for the most important religious stories of 2007. For me, one of the blessings of that recognition has been to remember some of the incredible things she said and did. Someone once interviewed her and asked “What’s the biggest problem in the world today?” Without hesitation she said, “The biggest problem in the world today is that we draw the circle of our family too small.” “We need to draw it larger every day.”

With all that’s going on in our community, our country, and our world today—there could be hundreds of different answers to the question: “What’s the biggest problem in our world today?” Those kinds of questions are being asked of all of the presidential candidates. What is the most troubling domestic issue? What is the most dangerous nation in the world? What is the biggest challenge we face, and on and on. And lots of folks have lots of different opinions and perspectives. But some of them are responding in a similar way as Mother Teresa. We need our circles need to be larger—beyond Democrat or Republican or Independent to American. Beyond American to partners in a global community. Perhaps we can see Jesus’ baptism as a circle-widening moment as well? Surely it was a time of blessing and the beginning of his ministry. But maybe it was also a way for him to identify with us… With our need to be cleansed, to be made whole? Could it be that when we are baptized, it is a dramatic, graceful, circle-widening moment?

OUR FIRST BAPTISM STORY OF THE NEW YEAR AT BEARGRASS IS A WONDERFUL ONE. A few weeks ago we were wrapping up the worship service. I offered the benediction and began walking down the aisle. When I passed the third pew, I heard a voice call out to me, “Dr. Bond, Dr. Bond!” Everybody had already stood up and was parading out of the pews. But the voice and a face emerged from the crowd—it was A. J. Simms. A. J. is a friend of my son’s; they attend Ballard High School. A. J. is a big, strong, very polite young man—and yes, he does play football. He has been active in the youth program and attending worship. A. J. worked his way through the folks and said, “I’m ready. I’m ready to commit my life to Christ and be baptized.” I said, “A. J., that’s great—that’s one of the most important decisions you will ever make.” “How would you like to be baptized on the first Sunday of the New Year?” He told me that would be fine and we made plans for it. The week before the baptism, we contacted him to see how many pews needed to be reserved for his family. We started with one; by the end of the week it grew to two. His family and friends wanted to be here to support him. Last Sunday, A. J. met me before the service. He was stylin’—dressed up in a new suit and tie! The members of his family and friends beamed from their pews as they witnessed his baptism. Church family members pledged their support of A. J. They met him and greeted him after the service. Lots of pictures were taken. But that wasn’t the end of it. His parents invited our family and Julie to come over to their home for a celebration luncheon. A number of significant things happened while we were there. A delicious meal was prepared—including a beautiful cake that had candles on it that spelled out the word “baptism.”

Before we ate, we all gathered around the table and held hands. As a visiting minister, I was getting some thoughts together for the blessing—but they didn’t ask me! Thank God! His mother looked around the circle and thanked us for being there for A. J.’s important day… And then she asked A. J. to bless the meal. And he did…eloquently and gracefully. When we sat down, A. J.’s grandmother—a woman who is affectionately known as “Big Mother”—sat at the head of the table. She is the matriarch of the family And she is not big in stature—but she is BIG in heart and spirit. She usually attends St. Stephen’s Church where Rev. Dr. Kevin Cosby is the pastor.She told me that she couldn’t help herself—she had to shout out a few “Amens” during the service! And then she got to preachin’ a little bit—which was delightful! But she was so proud of her family—and so proud of A. J. for making this important decision. Do you think he’ll remember his baptism? Well, we shared in that baptism feast together. And we had a marvelous mix of people there.Different ages and stages, black hair and brown hair and blonde hair and red hair and gray hair and no hair. It was a glorious glimpse of the kingdom of God. And I silently gave thanks for this circle-widening celebration…

Because when he—or any of us—are baptized… We aren’t baptized into the circle of a group of friends. We aren’t baptized in the circle of a youth group. We aren’t baptized into the circle of a Sunday School class.We aren’t baptized into some club through a rite of initiation. We aren’t baptized into the circle of a particular church. We aren’t baptized into a particular denomination. We are baptized into the whole Body of Christ, the family of God. Neither Jew nor Greek, slave or free, male or female! Red and yellow, black and white—all precious in God’s sight! Thanks be to God! Thanks be to God for loving—all the children of the world!