Pray:

 Romans 6:3-5

 

“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

 

 

 

“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

 

Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ  was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father , so we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today is the anniversary of my son Karl’s baptism.  I can remember that day like it just happened, although it was 23 years ago!   I remember preparing the sermon for this service in my office in Oakland, California.  I remember Peggy and me selecting his baptismal outfit.  I remember asking my sister Debbie and my brother-in-law Ray to serve as his God parents.  I remember the joy in my heart as I looked out into the congregation that morning and saw the smiles on Peggy’s and John Michael’s faces.  I re member how wonderful it was to get to baptize my own son.  I also remembered the reality of what had brought us to that moment::  the necessity of Jesus’ death on the Cross and his resurrection from the grave.  I remember holding that little life in my arms and realizing that God was claiming Karl as His own child forever:  that nothing could ever change that!  The Sacrament of baptism became much more powerful for me that day, because now  I actually see the need for baptism in the face of my son who God had blessed me with, yet I finally understood that there wasn’t anything I or Peggy could ever do to save his life:  that  was God’s doing, His promise, His blessing, His work and His gracious gift.  I hope that as you read this, you will take a moment to pause and reflect on the gift of baptism in your own life.  Never take for granted the gift and necessity of your baptism, but celebrate your baptism with a heart full of hope, love and praise to the One who offers us the gift  through the dying and rising of His Son!

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

  

 

Lord,  you are truly magnificent!  You create life and claim life through the person of your Son, Jesus.  Help me to realize just how big and awesome it is to be part of the baptismal story of God.  Help me to never take the gift of my baptism for granted.  And, help me to tell the story of what it means to me to be baptized to others.  May I walk in the covenant of my baptism today and everyday;  and may I remember the price that you have paid for me to know the joy of being your baptized child.