Remember Your Baptism - Matthew 3: 13-17

Less than one month after my birth, I was baptized. On September 28^th, 1986, my parents had me baptized into my home church by the Rev. Raymond Fraval. While I was too young to have a memory of the event itself, I know that it has effected both my Christian upbringing, faith journey, and call to ministry.

One might ask why my parents chose to have me baptized so early, to which there are two main reasons. The first reason was just practical in that there was going to be a baptism performed on that day. I was baptized with the largest baptism class in the history of West Side United Methodist Church with twelve infants and children were initiated into the Household of God. In a real and mysterious way my baptism with these eleven other people has sealed our personal community. I have traveled through many other milestones and life experiences with this group – Sunday School promotions, birthday parties, conformation, and high school and college graduations, to name a few. We are known in the church for our special bonds and deep friendships that continue to this day.

Second, my parents strongly believed that with my baptism they were asking the congregation to be an active part of my upbringing as a piece of their family. Prior to my baptism Rev. Fraval came to my parents apartment to discuss what baptism meant for both him, as the pastor, and each of my parents. He then verbally walked them through parts of the service and the basic theology of baptism. The part that stuck my father the most was the congregation’s commitment to help raise their daughter as they state that they will “nurture these children in Christ’s holy church, that by your teaching and example they may be guided to accept God’s grace for themselves, to profess their faith openly, and to lead a Christian life.” My home congregation has ethically and socially lived out this promise time and time again as a collective body and as individuals as they have helped my parents and extended family raise me in a Christian home and Church. They taught me how to articulate my faith through the sharing of their own faith journeys, including triumphs and struggles; they nurtured my love for the holy Church by teaching me the theology behind the liturgy in simple terms from an early age to ensure there was meaning behind my words and actions. There were times in my faith walk that I felt as if I had far too many parents, as people in the church took seriously their commitment to nurture and teach me, which sometimes involved scolding, but looking back both my parents and I appreciate their walking with me along this journey of faith, for without them I would never had affirmed my call to ministry. While some people may question the validity of Christian baptism, my parents can tell you that truly was as the discipline describes it, my entrance into the church, the sealing of the Spirit upon my life, and “an awareness by the baptized of heir claim to ministry in Christ placed upon their lives by the church.” By each member of West Side aiding my parents and using their spiritual gifts and fruits to bless our family, I was raised in an environment where the Spirit of God was present, moving, and acknowledged.

As beautiful as the stories of baptism may be, we can still ask why we baptize people today, whether it be infants, children, or adults. Is it just a story to tell? A fond memory for few?

No, it is so much more. We baptize because Jesus was baptized. We believe that Jesus’ baptism wasn’t just a simple act for the annunciation of Jesus’ ministry. It was for the benefit of those touched by Jesus. By those who heard the voice of God.

John knew that he was different. His mother told him the stories – the conception that shouldn’t have been possible and him leaping in the womb for joy when approached by the mother of the Messiah. His father had wisdom to share – God might silence our doubt by silencing our very lips - taking our words from us. But could wisdom and stories really prepare John for what was to come? Did he know that he was going to baptize the very one who would command his disciples to baptize the nations to the end of the world?

In the end, he might not of known his mission, known what he would be remembered for, but he knew that he wasn’t worthy to do it. “I should be baptized by you, and yet you come to me!”

But Jesus knew that his baptism would be an example to the world. An example of what exactly? I believe he was embodying nothing short of the mystery of God. For as Jesus was coming out of the water the sky split open and the Holy Spirit descended as God proclaimed, “This is my very own, my beloved, on whom my favor rests.” There may not be a more powerful message for anyone throughout history and God says it to each of us as well – you are my very own, the one most dear to my heart, and I hope for you the full realization of what I have in store for you.

We, as Methodists, believe that baptism is holy because of these words spoken over Jesus and each of us. We believe that it marks our journeys as ministers of the gospel as part of Christ’s holy church. Even as babies. I truly believe that each member of the body of Christ has something to share with us – a gift to bless us with – even if it is as pure as tears or laughter. And we believe that God does not screw up this covenant that is being made with us. We may break covenant with God, but God will never, I repeat, never, break it with us.

I now understand also why it hurt some of those dear to me so deeply when I spoke about re-baptism my sophomore year of college. During February of that year I traveled to Israel for a class about the Holy Land. While at the river Jordan I asked my professor, a Methodist professor, to re-baptize me since I could now choose my time and method by which to be baptized. He explained to me that in line with Martin Luther, John Wesley believed that one baptism was sufficient and that it was the seal of the Holy Spirit that could not be diminished or removed. Therefore, God created a good work once that did not be repeated merely because I felt that I had grown in my faith. However, he invited me to the river Jordan to remember my baptism. While I had grown up in the United Methodist Church, this was the first time that I had ever been invited to remember my baptism in a tangible way beyond the re-affirmation of my faith as part of the congregation as part of the baptismal covenant.

Today is the day to celebrate and remember that God is doing a good work in you. It began long before your baptism – the time when we publicly proclaim it as a church. It was known in the Heavens before you took your first breath on this earth. Because God created you. We live in a world that tempts us to forget that message, that we are God’s very own. And that is why we celebrate the Wesleyan Covenant of Renewal today. We may not be able to be re-baptized every time we stray from God, but once a year, as well as every time we celebrate the baptism of one around us, we remember the covenant that was forged between us and God. That the creator of the universe called Jesus out of the waters with the Heavens proclaiming that he was God’s beloved, and the same claim is laid on each of our lives every day. We stand as witnesses in the tradition of the Saints and Jesus Christ saying that God has a purpose for our being, and we will surround all of those around us with love. We will let our lives be examples, like Jesus’ was for us, of the walk of faith – triumphs, joys, sorrows, struggles, and everything in between. We will nurture those around us to make disciples for the transformation of the world. And most importantly, we hold each others hand and proclaim that we are one family, united by one true Holy Spirit that has laid claim to each of our lives and calls us “Beloved”. So may we now join together in this service of renewal of our covenant with the lord and with each other, as we remember our baptisms.

Amen. Amen. Amen.