Prepositions

In the name of the Father     and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…

I have been reminded recently that we begin our worship with . . . an incomplete sentence. It doesn’t have a subject, a verb or a direct object. It is a prepositional phrase. This sentence becomes complete when I remember where it starts. “I baptize you…” It reminds me, whenever I use it that I am baptized. I am a believer. I am a Christian.

Does it mean that because I am a Christian, everything will work out great and all my problems will be solved! Thanksgiving meal will be picture worthy and everyone will get along. Nothing will disturb the tranquility of my soul. There will be no accidents or arguments and I won’t be misunderstood by my friends. The turkey will be golden brown.

If you believe any of that you would be wrong. Our faith is not a magic bubble that protects us from trouble or trials. We will all, most certainly stumble and fall. There will be arguments with our spouse and loneliness during holidays that seem to have promised us just the opposite.

The Good news is that none of these trials can separate us from a God who loves us and gave himself for us. Baptism isn’t just a historical moment in the past. Christians live in their Baptism daily.

No matter how difficult the journey I have one who walks with me. I walk the same ground as everyone else and struggle with many of the same issues. The difference is that with each step, each breath I am accompanied, strengthened and preserved by the God who claimed me as his own in my baptism.

May your turkey always turn out golden brown, but even when it doesn’t, I pray you always remember your baptism.