Jan. 8, 2012 The Baptism Of Our Lord Sunday

Mark 1:4-11

 4 And so John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6 John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

“His Baptism and Ours” 

It all begins with Baptism, this thing called mission and ministry.

It began with Baptism for Jesus, and it begins there for us.

As one theologian put it, baptism is:  “Not only a Rite of Initiation, not only a signal moment in (our) relation to God as a child of God, but it is also a time of becoming a character in the on going story of God’s work in (our) world.”

It is a commissioning more then a christening; a setting aside for special purpose.  An ordination if you please into ministry.  Baptism is for what we can give to life and to others because we have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the Cross of Christ forever.  It is not meant to separate us from others; it is meant to make us more open to being the presence of Christ for others. 

For God shows no partiality!  Not even to the Baptized!  God loves all!  Period!

“Baptism - Sacrament of Belonging”  

To be baptized is more than a free ticket to heaven.  It is a means of identification with the family of believers. 

To be baptized is to belong to a body of people who care and share together.  Who come together in worship, for worship is not a solo event.  

Who come together to work and witness.  Belonging and coming together is important in our lives of faith.  

We are baptized; we do belong.  To Christ and to one another in his body, the Church.