Sunday, June 7, 2015 | After Pentecost
Genesis 3:8-15
Psalm 130: 1-8
2 Corinthians 4:13–5:1
Mark 3:20–35
Isn’t it nice that we are in a different gospel today? Oh don’t get me wrong, John is great stuff, but it is nice to have another perspective of the gospel too. Last time I was here at Lord of Love, I spoke about baptism. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but today’s gospel, now from Mark, takes us that direction too.
Who is my mother and brothers, Jesus asks. Who do you say is your mother, your sisters and brothers? Family is important and how Jesus defines the family is more important. You heard the old saying….. blood is thicker than water. In the family of Christians, we start with the water in baptism and later we are also bound to Jesus and Christians of past and preset through communion in the blood of Jesus.
Through water and Word, we are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Here is the entrance into a family of Christ. As a family in Christ, we are children of God and joint heirs with Christ in all that God gives us through Christ. (Rom 8:17) It is the power of the Holy Spirit that we are transformed into members of Jesus’ family.
Baptism is a sacrament commanded by Jesus, Emanuel, God with us. Jesus says that whoever does the will of God, is His brother and sister and mother. (Mark 3:35) it is in baptism that our entire reality is changed. We receive identity not only with God but with one another, all that have been baptized, both the living and the dead and the ones yet to be baptized.
What is so important about family and why is this new family so important? Family stands with each other, each and every family member. Family protects, guides, cares for, nurtures, holds accountable, heals and nourishes their family members. All this we receive as sisters and brothers in Christ. How do we receive all of this? When we come together as a worshiping community, where we come together as two or more, in Jesus’ name, we receive what we need from God and from those around us, through God.
The newly baptized, whether child or adult, needs, wants and expects to have support from their church family. Okay, so maybe an infant doesn’t know this yet, but that is what the parents and sponsors desire, for the baptized infant. When I was baptized as an adult, I can’t say that I knew as clearly as I do today, what I was looking for but it was given to me, despite my lack of clarity. What I did know was, I was looking to belong, to be part of something that was calling out to me and is still calling out to me today.
When someone is baptized, the congregation promises to support and pray for the baptized. We are then asked questions about God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit. Our responses come from the confession of faith in the Apostles Creed, where we state what we believe and our beliefs ground our response to the baptized.
When we take communion, it is not uncommon for this to be offered to all the baptized. This is an important opportunity, which Martin Luther says to take as often as offered. This opportunity allows us as a family to join with Jesus Christ, all Christians past and present in communion with one another. Our family is joined so that no matter where we are gathered, we as Christians promise in our baptism to be supportive of each other and we hold each other accountable.
Therefore, when we change our worshiping place, either through a visit or a permanent change in our location, we come together as family. Families support, sustain, and nurture one another, no matter where they are.
I am happy to report to you today, those gathered here today, are my family. I am happy to report to you today that Maggie, my sister in Christ, part of my family is now part of the Lord of Love family as well. You all seem to welcome others into the family so naturally. When I had some visitors come last month, they were so impressed at the welcome and follow-up they received. So impressed that they told others and me about the Christian family of Lord of Love.
Jesus has redefined your family. Jesus has redefined our family. Our realities are change in our baptisms. We are baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and become members of the family of God, in Christ Jesus. We join with all the baptized through our Holy Communion to be a family gathered through the ages.
If you would like to join this family, the family of God in Jesus the Christ, I welcome you to come forward if you have not been baptized yet, and received your baptism in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit.
If you are unsure still but want to speak about this, please see Maggie or myself about changing your reality, to become a baptized member of God’s family in Christ Jesus.