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In the Collect for today we prayed these words “Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ”. In the Gospel of John chapter ten, verse ten, Jesus says, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The abundant life that we are promised by Jesus Christ begins in our relationship with Christ and is sealed in our baptism.
Today we are celebrating the rite of holy baptism for Leeanna Parsons. Leeanna first came to us here at St. Raphael’s to help us through her secretarial and computer skills in the church office. She has brought us much more. From the moment I met Leeanna, I could feel a kindred spirit in the Lord with her. So you can imagine my surprise when last month Leeanna told me we had a request for a baptism and it was for her.
As a child Leeanna attended an Episcopal church for three years. During that time she learned to love Jesus. Then her family moved and like so many families just stopped going to church. So Leeanna’s faith walk has been a private one. Yet, during her journey she has shown the love of God to others through her God-given gifts of generosity, encouragement and kindness. Our parish office has been blessed to have Leeanna as our connection with the public and members of this church.
It is a joy to welcome Leeanna into the fullness of the Body of Christ today through the sacred waters of baptism. Baptism is not just an outward sign of a previous commitment in Christ. The waters of baptism cleanse our spirits and renew our hearts and minds to become like Christ’s. We become one with the body of believers that are both living and those who have passed through the veil into the very Presence of Christ. This union with fellow believers is known as the communion of the saints. It is a holy communion that unites us with the prayers of the living and the dead.
Through baptism our old lives are buried in Christ’s death on the cross. We are then raised up with Christ in His resurrection as new creations. No longer are we held in the grips of bondage from the old life. Instead, we are set free to know and live in the freedom of Christ’s love for all peoples. Baptism opens the gates of heaven for our Father God to shower us with His blessings as joint heirs with Christ Jesus.
St. Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, ‘Abba!* Father!’ 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness* with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ—if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.”
The life of the baptized is not one of bliss. Instead we are tested for our faith, because we bear the mark of Jesus on us which the world hates. In the early church, those who desired baptism had to attend three years of classes. During that time they were known as catechumens. The reason the early church was so strict concerning who were allowed to be baptized was because becoming a follower of Christ meant putting one’s life on the line. Christians suffered great persecutions for their beliefs even to the point of being martyred for Christ. In fact, it is often said that the death of the martyrs were the seeds that grew the Church so rapidly. Because of the bravery of the early Christians to endure all things for Christ’s sake, even horrible deaths, many were converted to Christianity.
Hopefully, no one here today will be asked to lay down our life for Christ. Yet, we are tested daily through many other ways for Christ’s sake. Some of these tests or adversities may at times seem to overwhelm us. Yet, our loving Lord has promised us that through Him we will overcome all things. In the International Standard Version, according to the gospel of John, Jesus says, “I have told you this so that through me you may have peace. In the world you will have trouble, but be courageous-I have overcome the world!"
It does not matter what evil comes our way, Jesus our Lord has already defeated the works of the Devil. So no matter the adversities and trials we face in this world, we have the Son of God protecting us. It doesn’t get any better than that! When adversities come our way, the scriptures tell us to wait upon the Lord and He will renew our strength. The prophet Isaiah writes, “Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah also tells us the Lord shows mercy to the downtrodden. The prophet writes, “He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.” As for those who have had their hearts broken, the psalmist tells us that the Lord is our healer. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” These are just a few of the blessings the Lord has promised those who live their lives for Him.
Each day brings new challenges and ways to share the love of Christ with others and to experience His love for us in even deeper ways. The joy of our baptism means that we are never alone. As members of the Body of Christ we are surrounded with the company of saints and grounded in the Spirit of Christ Jesus. We live and breathe the renewing life of Jesus Christ with each moment we live on earth. The world may be our present domicile, but it is not our permanent address. For our permanent address is in Heaven with our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ. So today as we rejoice with the Angels in the spiritual birth of our sister; let us also remember our own baptism and be thankful for Jesus, who gave His all, to make us One in Him. May we rejoice in the abundant life that only Christ can give.
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