I like to think I avoid death (like the plague). I hate it. There is sadness and hurt there that has no earthly cure or comfort. Even the death of my enemies is going to make someone cry. Any rejoicing in death is probably selfish.
This post is really in response to one of those thoughts that gets inspired by another's comment when I am not usually within access to jotting my thoughts down for further musing.
So, to Debra: I saw my Aunt Andrea's response to your posting. I don't know any circumstances, so I can only infer. Nothing I can say will take away your sadness. But I do wish to offer you a few words of hope. Continue to share the tears and embrace of friends and family.
Forgiveness is toughest when we have to find it within ourselves. There isn't much if any there. Forgiveness can't be earned either. But it is paid for. Jesus did all the forgiving this world needs. All I need. All you need. All Anna needs. Even all BH needs. Jesus paid for the forgiveness of the world with death. His death doesn't make me sad. I don't hate it. I am relieved. It means life.
Anna's death at 19 was too soon. Had she lived happily until she was 91 it would still be too soon. Death is just wrong. But death for the Christian is like being sent to bed early when you wanted to go play with your friends past the sunset. We know it isn't fair. We know we can't do anything about it but sleep. But the Resurrection is like Jesus saying at sun rise, "Wake up! Have I got a fantastic day planned for us."
All those things she wanted to do are not ended. They will simply have to wait. She like the rest of us will have to wait. In the scheme of eternity, the wait won't be long.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
The Baptism of Our Lord
Baptism is one of my favorite subjects. I know that in Baptism my sins were washed away upon Jesus. In Baptism I am joined with the risen Christ.
Remembering my baptism is supposed to be a daily occurrence. It should be for you all as well. The Baptized confess their sins, believe and meditate upon the forgiveness of Christ. Forgiveness that is as abundant as water. John was baptizing in the wilderness, but not in the dessert. He was baptizing in the Jordan river. It was resort region. There was an abundance of water flowing there. Jesus requested baptism to fulfill all righteousness. He was filling us with his righteousness. Our sins are washed off of us and onto Jesus. His righteousness is then washed onto us.
Jesus does great work with water. He always has. Sometimes it is just a little like the spit he mixed with earth to make mud and heal a blind man. Sometimes it is a lot like the 18 jars of water that became wine at his will. Wine that he will later say, "Take and drink, this is my blood shed for you. Or that big catch of fish wasn't supposed to happen at that time of day on the Sea of Gallilee. An ocean that Jonah didn't drown in. The river water in which Naaman's leprosy was cleansed. The water from the rock that followed them in the wilderness wanderings. The water that guarded them on both sides as they passed through on dry land. The water that carried baby Moses from death to life in Pharaoh's court. The water that carried the ark and Noah's family, a precursor to Baptism. Water left the Garden of Eden as four rivers. The water in the beginning that seems to be the raw material for God in Christ's creative work. And at the end of his ministry on earth, Jesus commanded the discipling of the nations involve baptism connected to his Word.
I personally am not a big fan of water. I don't care for rain unless it is going to save me the trouble and expense of watering the garden. I can do without swimming and water sports, fishing and splashing in puddles. If I want to get wet I'll step into a hot shower to be soothed and to think but rarely a bath.
But Baptism, that's got Christ for me, for you written all over it. I don't remember my own baptism, but I suspect that Pastor Jesse used ice cold water and that sensation lingers in my subconscious. But while I don't remember it, the Holy Spirit does. He keeps me safe in my baptism my whole life long. That is his work and promise to you too.
We keep sinning, Christ keeps forgiving. We live a life that leads away from God and Christ continues to lead us back to the Father.
The reading from Genesis doesn't specifically mention baptism, but it does mention water and the Spirit. John's gospel helps bring this into focus with his comments about Jesus being the Word which is God made flesh present at creation.
Sin leads us away from the truth and the light of the world. Baptism brings us back. In baptism Christ is using his creative power to restore us. This tells us two things. The bad news is that our sinful nature cannot be handled with our own mere works. The ridding of sin in the world and in us is no simple matter. That is, it is in the incomprehensible. Meditation will not bring us out of sin. Planning will not steer us away from a path of death and misery. Hard work, trial and error will not show us the way to life eternal. Enlightenment does not change who we are. Frustration, denial and unbelief will not change the wages of sin. Praying, doing good and playing fair won't impress the One who doesn't show favoritism. But baptism on the other hand is the same power of God in creation making us new. It is being carried by Jesus into the death we earned, but finding he has taken the sting. Joining Christ in his death through baptism the curse has been replaced by recreation.
Our eyes see simple water and our ears hear a familiar word. But hidden in this weak act is the action of God in all its potency that the first day of creation witnessed. That same power was absent in the dark hours of Jesus death on the cross. Crucifixion killed by simulating drowning. The lungs fill with fluid and breathing halts.
There would only be one act of obedience. It was the life of Christ. There is only one real act of divine punishment. Jesus nailed to the cross faced it full on. He both endured it and ended it. There would only be one act of redemption. It is the life of Christ. But it is shared with you as if you are drenched in God the Father's favor.
Amen.
Remembering my baptism is supposed to be a daily occurrence. It should be for you all as well. The Baptized confess their sins, believe and meditate upon the forgiveness of Christ. Forgiveness that is as abundant as water. John was baptizing in the wilderness, but not in the dessert. He was baptizing in the Jordan river. It was resort region. There was an abundance of water flowing there. Jesus requested baptism to fulfill all righteousness. He was filling us with his righteousness. Our sins are washed off of us and onto Jesus. His righteousness is then washed onto us.
Jesus does great work with water. He always has. Sometimes it is just a little like the spit he mixed with earth to make mud and heal a blind man. Sometimes it is a lot like the 18 jars of water that became wine at his will. Wine that he will later say, "Take and drink, this is my blood shed for you. Or that big catch of fish wasn't supposed to happen at that time of day on the Sea of Gallilee. An ocean that Jonah didn't drown in. The river water in which Naaman's leprosy was cleansed. The water from the rock that followed them in the wilderness wanderings. The water that guarded them on both sides as they passed through on dry land. The water that carried baby Moses from death to life in Pharaoh's court. The water that carried the ark and Noah's family, a precursor to Baptism. Water left the Garden of Eden as four rivers. The water in the beginning that seems to be the raw material for God in Christ's creative work. And at the end of his ministry on earth, Jesus commanded the discipling of the nations involve baptism connected to his Word.
I personally am not a big fan of water. I don't care for rain unless it is going to save me the trouble and expense of watering the garden. I can do without swimming and water sports, fishing and splashing in puddles. If I want to get wet I'll step into a hot shower to be soothed and to think but rarely a bath.
But Baptism, that's got Christ for me, for you written all over it. I don't remember my own baptism, but I suspect that Pastor Jesse used ice cold water and that sensation lingers in my subconscious. But while I don't remember it, the Holy Spirit does. He keeps me safe in my baptism my whole life long. That is his work and promise to you too.
We keep sinning, Christ keeps forgiving. We live a life that leads away from God and Christ continues to lead us back to the Father.
The reading from Genesis doesn't specifically mention baptism, but it does mention water and the Spirit. John's gospel helps bring this into focus with his comments about Jesus being the Word which is God made flesh present at creation.
Sin leads us away from the truth and the light of the world. Baptism brings us back. In baptism Christ is using his creative power to restore us. This tells us two things. The bad news is that our sinful nature cannot be handled with our own mere works. The ridding of sin in the world and in us is no simple matter. That is, it is in the incomprehensible. Meditation will not bring us out of sin. Planning will not steer us away from a path of death and misery. Hard work, trial and error will not show us the way to life eternal. Enlightenment does not change who we are. Frustration, denial and unbelief will not change the wages of sin. Praying, doing good and playing fair won't impress the One who doesn't show favoritism. But baptism on the other hand is the same power of God in creation making us new. It is being carried by Jesus into the death we earned, but finding he has taken the sting. Joining Christ in his death through baptism the curse has been replaced by recreation.
Our eyes see simple water and our ears hear a familiar word. But hidden in this weak act is the action of God in all its potency that the first day of creation witnessed. That same power was absent in the dark hours of Jesus death on the cross. Crucifixion killed by simulating drowning. The lungs fill with fluid and breathing halts.
There would only be one act of obedience. It was the life of Christ. There is only one real act of divine punishment. Jesus nailed to the cross faced it full on. He both endured it and ended it. There would only be one act of redemption. It is the life of Christ. But it is shared with you as if you are drenched in God the Father's favor.
Amen.
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