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Calvary
Episcopal Church
Memphis, Tennessee
January 19,, 2003
The
Second Sunday after Epiphany
This
Is a Big Deal, So Act Like It!
The Rev. George S. Yandell
Gospel: John 1:43-51
(This sermon is also available in audio.)
In 1977 I
had an Epiphany. Henry Rightor, wise priest and professor at Virginia
Theological Seminary asked the class in Pastoral Theology, "Who
do we baptize in the Episcopal Church?" We students offered lots
of responses to Henry. He shook his head in disgust and dismay saying,
"Wrong, wrong, wrong. We baptize everybody who requests it, no
questions asked. We baptize anyone who desires it because that's what
Jesus intended--no barriers, no hurdles, no exclusions." Henry also
said no deacon or priest worth his/her salt would ever baptize anyone
without preparation. He said, "People have to know what they're getting
into; this baptism is once for all, no going back, it's a big deal,
so act like it!" Somehow I'd always thought baptism was a cozy,
nice little event, a "Christening" as we used to call it, mostly
done in private, at a time convenient for one family only.
What a remarkable
public event today. We have witnessed the transformation of five young
people into Christians. In company with their five families, we have all
baptized them in union with God. We have proclaimed that there are no
barriers now between them and God. We have all been renewed in our own
baptisms. At this moment, these five children are the newest members of
the communion of saints. If we listen closely, we can hear all the saints
singing in joy to receive them into the household of faith.
What does
it mean for each of them, each of us to have no barriers, no boundaries
between us and God?
Three things,
at least:
1..No barriers
between us and God means we have instant, constant access to God without
any mediators. Jesus has opened God's domain to us. We are naked before
God, and God is open to us. That's a pretty scary thought, isn't it?
Nathanael learned that lesson in his first contact with Jesus. "Wow,
Jesus, you know who I am. You really are God's Son!" No barriers
means we are free, absolutely free to call on God and be called on by
God. When Jesus says, "Follow me," it's not the other guy
he's pointing to, it's you and me.
2. No barriers
means we are kin to every other Christian in every age of the Church.
Like it or not, we are family with Coptic Christians in Ethiopia, with
Southern Baptists in Dallas, and with Russian Orthodox believers in
Ukraine. Every baptized person who has lived and died is our mother,
father, sister and brother. We carry the promise for the whole world
that we all can be one, as God and Jesus are one. Our kinship group
stands out because of our belief that God became human, lived and died
for us, and was raised anew on Easter. This God, Jesus the baptized
one, sits at the head of our family meal, each and every time we gather.
Every one is welcome at that table.
3. No barriers
means we are accountable personally for the promises made for us, and
that we make in baptism. Since we freely enter this baptism contract,
and since it can never be cancelled, it means we can't escape responsibility
for the vows we make. These children baptized here today may choose
later on whether to live into their promises, but they can never cut
the cord that binds them in relationship to Jesus. Their sponsors--their
parents and godparents--are to tend to their upbringing personally.
Each of us has vowed to support them in their life in Christ. These
are binding promises, but freely fulfilled. If and when we fall short,
God forgives us. If we turn our backs on God, God keeps seeking us.
We have died and been raised with Christ. That's the way it is.
Louis Weil
has said there's only one sacrament in the Church, Baptism. Weil said
that Eucharist is the repeatable part of baptism. It's all about our initiation
into Christ, and being reminded whose we are, what God has done for us
in Christ, and what we do in response. It's all here before us. In a moment
we will feast at God's table, Christ is here with us. As you move to receive
Christ's body and blood, be renewed in your faith, and then carry yourself
into God's world in witness to all God has done for us. As Henry Rightor
said, "This is a big deal, so act like it!"
Copyright
2003 Calvary Episcopal Church
Gospel: John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and
said to him, "Follow me." 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the
city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We
have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote,
Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46Nathanael said to him, "Can
anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come
and see." 47When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of
him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"
48Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus
answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."
49Nathanael replied,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"
50Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you
under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51And
he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened
and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
NRSV
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