We are almost at the end of Lent. We’ve traveled through the 40 days and through the promises of the Baptismal Covenant found in the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. We’ve considered how the baptismal promises call us to live.
Just before the person or infant is baptized, the water is
blessed. In the prayer, the holiness of water is recounted. Participants are
reminded that we are ‘buried with Christ’ in the waters of baptism to be
‘reborn by the Holy Spirit.'
Often at the Easter Vigil, we hear lessons recounting all
the saving acts of God through the ages. This Baptismal prayer gives a brief
recounting of those same actions.
We thank you,
Almighty God, for the gift of water. Over it the Holy Spirit moved in the
beginning of creation.
Through it you led the children of Israel out of their bondage in Egypt into
the land of promise.
In it your Son Jesus received the baptism of John and was anointed by the Holy Spirit
as the Messiah, the Christ, to lead us, through his death and resurrection,
from the bondage of sin into everlasting life.
We thank you,
Father, for the water of Baptism.
In it we are buried with Christ in his death.
By it we share in his resurrection.
Through it we are reborn by the Holy Spirit.
Therefore in
joyful obedience to your Son,
we bring into his fellowship those who come to him in faith,
baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
Now sanctify this
water, we pray you, by the power of your Holy Spirit,
that those who here are cleansed from sin and born again
may continue for ever in the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior.
To him, to you,
and to the Holy Spirit, be all honor and
glory, now and for ever. Amen.
From Creation to the rescue of the people of Israel from
Egyptian slaver, to the ultimate salvation through Jesus Christ birth, death,
and resurrection, we are reminded that we are part of a holy fellowship—the
Beloved Community of the Family of God.
Because we are part of that family, we can live as the Palm
Sunday Epistle (Philippians 2:5-11) counsels. We are urged to let the same
mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied
himself, taking the form of a slave.” We are to serve, not for our glory,
but to point to God.
In the first part of the Gospel, we hear of the ‘Woman with
an Alabaster Jar’ who anointed Jesus. (Mark 14:3-9) When the disciples are appalled, Jesus
responds, She has performed a good service for me…She has done what she
could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. Truly I tell you,
wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will
be told in remembrance of her.”
Without thought for herself or her reputation or for any
consequences, this woman poured costly perfume on Jesus. Her action of
self-giving was acknowledged and blessed by Jesus. In the same way, our small
acts of love are seen and blessed by God.
At the end of the Baptism service the newly baptized are
anointed as well with the oil of chrism—the same oil used when a person is
ordained. We are each anointed and ordained as a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
As we enter Holy Week, consider the idea that you are part of the
priesthood of all believers, and God’s special possession!
