Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord Sunday. This day is the day that John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan at the beginning of his ministry. Jesus baptism is not the same as the baptism we do today as we baptize with the Spirit and Jesus was simply washed with water. Yet the baptism was important. This was a marker, a statement, from Jesus that he was moving forward with God's will. This was a moment in which God was reveal to all present and that Jesus was reveal as God's son. During our baptisms, either as children or adults God is reveal to those present, as God is present.
As two Pastors we struggled with when, where and how to baptize our children. We debated over infant vs. believer as our tradition allows for both. We debated over if we should baptize at one of our churches or simply at a Presbytery meeting (sorry to all those hopeful for that one). We debated as to how it would be done - by one of us or by someone else; sprinkle or pour, we were not going to dip a baby. In the end, with our first daughter we decided a joint worship service with a good friend / mentor Pastor doing the baptism was nice. This would allow us to be the parents and not just the Pastors. It was nice. We enjoyed the moments of Baptism and as the water was being poured out of shell over her head, the presence of God could be felt. We knew in that moment the Spirit of God was ignited in her and God would be a part of her life.
A few years later, a new baby and a new debate. What would we do this time. I felt the desire to do the baptism. Why not be both Pastor and Parent? Aren't we the ones who teach our children first and foremost about God? So there I was infant in hand, affirming statements instead of questions and sprinkling water over my son's head. My husband didn't want to "do" the act. He was thrilled to have water in front of him. He splashed and play. He enjoyed every moment of this Holy act and in the moment of sprinkle, he suddenly got silent as we felt God's presence in this glorious present of the Holy Spirit.
A few years later, a new baby and a new debate. This time my husband wanted to Baptize. This time, he wanted to be a part of that moment when the Spirit is ignited within and God's presence is felt. And so, we affirmed the statements instead of questions and this time he sprinkled water as this son splashed and played in the Holy water. This time he was not the only person baptized that day; as he sprayed water around the front of the sanctuary sprinkling all with the Holy water.
They have all become children of God, with whom I know God is well pleased. These moments in which our children were baptized were not just steps of growing up or markers. They were not decisions made lightly or without thought. They were Holy moments in which we affirmed that we will teach, lead and encourage our children to know God. That we believe the Spirit inside them will call them to God's loving grace.
Being baptized isn't about receiving the key to the Kingdom of Heaven; it is however about acknowledging
God in not only our life but the world around us. Jesus baptism was at the beginning of his ministry and ours is at the beginning of our relationship with God. Baptism marks either our own acceptance of this beginning or our parents acceptance on our behalf. So we remember today our own baptism. The baptism that was not just of water but was of Spirit. The baptism that wasn't just for show but that ignited in us the Spirit and the call for us to accept grace.
