Presbyterians refer to our two sacraments of baptism and communion (Eucharist; Lord's Supper) as visible marks of God's invisible grace. I refer to both sacraments as holy mysteries infinite beyond my comprehension. Experiencing them and growing into these mysteries will be a lifelong quest I embrace with passion. By trying to explain them in only rational ways ends up underestimating God's power and the presence of the Holy Spirit operating through these sacraments. They are symbols of both God's almighty transcendence and Christ's intimate nearness to us as we open ourselves to the Spirit at work in them. Both sacraments offer us a human-divine encounter as we are sprinkled/dipped/or drowned in the waters of baptism and as we receive a taste of the promised kingdom in bread and grape juice/wine. We use such ordinary things as water, font, table, chunks of bread, and a chalice of juice to open ourselves to God's grace at work in our daily lives.
In Acts 19: 1-7, author Luke says "If you've been baptized in John's baptism [of repentance], you're ready now for the real thing, for Jesus." (E Peterson, "The Message," Acts 19: 4b) The real thing is the power of the Holy Spirit. In Mark 1: 4-11, we read of Jesus' baptism as the new baptism available to us. The waters of the Jordan River and the presence of John baptizing Jesus were real and visible. But who of us in our baptism experience the skies split and torn open? Who of us is dive-bombed by a dove (the presence of the Holy Spirit) in our baptisms? Who of us hears God's voice thundering down, "You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life"?
When we are Christ followers baptized in Jesus' name, we can claim this same Holy Spirit and adoption as God's children into God's family. We can claim God's grace and mercy. We can regularly celebrate our union with Christ by sitting at table where he is the host. But it's up to us to experience the power of the Holy Spirit with expectancy and openness to the regular God-sightings available if we but see and hear and look with our hearts. While the power of the Holy Spirit can be thunderous and mighty and miraculous, this same power and presence can be quiet and profound - as Mother Teresa says: "We can do no great things - only small things with great love." To practice our faith as daily small things with great love is effected through the power of the Spirit at work in our lives.
May both sacraments remind you to respond to God with small acts of great love,
Pastor Shelley
No comments:
Post a Comment