Water and the Word

Titus 3:3-7

Who knew baptism was such a controversial topic?  Well, lots of people, but I figured baptism is baptism, no matter when, where or how.  I've come to learn that the means and meaning of baptism have embroiled the church since the 16^th Century.  

My own baptism story is a little different.  In the Catholic church, a baby is typically baptized within a few months of birth.  I, on the other hand, can remember my baptism because I was several years old.  I don’t recall consciously deciding to say “Yes” to God, but I did know something special was happening inside St. Mary's that day.

As I got older, I learned I had taken part in a sacred sacrament that washed away sin and offered salvation.  Then in the 8^th grade, during my Confirmation, I renewed my baptismal promises, this time wholly acknowledging what I was saying “Yes” to. 

Fast forward to my children’s baptism.  Again, things happened a little bit different because my son was eight and my daughter, five.  They too have vivid memories of the day the benefits of baptism were bestowed upon them.

Preparation for today’s reading lead me to do some digging and learning about the history of baptism.  It also pointed me to Luther’s Small Catechism, which I didn’t have growing up.  Luther uses Titus to answer the question, How can water do such great things?

…For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5–8)

For me, the bottom line is… through baptism we are saved, “not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy” (v.5).  And whether we’re six weeks or 60 years, when water and the word combine, we are renewed in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Thank you for the blessings of baptism!

      

A Cup of Change

Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we partake in one loaf.” 1 Corinthians 10:16-17

Visualize how even though we partake in the body and blood of Christ in many locations throughout the world, it as though we are eating from the same loaf and drinking from the same cup. When we partake of the sacrament of Holy Communion we are changed, we are forgiven, and we are filled with mercy and grace. Now as we exit our places of worship how do we conduct ourselves?“You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too.”(1 Corinthians 10:21)

Years ago, there was a song our congregation sang on the Sundays when Holy Communion was celebrated. This song reached down deep into my heart and prepared me for the feast to come. “Let Us Break Bread Together on our Knees,” is that song. The words humbled my haughty spirit and primed my mind and soul for the gift I was about to receive. Tears often resulted.

Our world seems to be continuing in a downward spiral with immorality of all types being revealed to us and our children. It is more than concerning and so big it feels hopeless but is it really any different than in A.D. 54?

Scripture does not say it will be easy, but that He will be there to offer us an out, better options than those the world leads us to……. The Bread—of Life        The Cup—Eternal Salvation

1 Corinthians 10:14-17