On Water...

I bet that by now most of our Christmas trees are either packed away or have been put through the chipper, our wise men have gone home to their storage boxes in the basement or the attic and our gifts have been put away or put in the re-gift corner.  But, the church continues to celebrate Christmas this weekend with the Baptism of the Lord as another sign that God in Christ has become one of us so that we might become God.

We are sprinkled with holy water at the beginning of this weekend’s liturgies to remind us of our own baptism.   The sprinkling rite causes me to think about the meaning of water.  Water is cleansing, renewing, ritualizing (bathing in the morning or evening, having a cup of tea or coffee at certain times of the day), gathering (at the beach or pool in the summer), refashioning (Grand Canyon) scattering (tsunami), death, (Hurricane Katrina), and life (we can’t live without water!).

This reflection deepens my understanding of baptism by helping me to see why water is its primary symbol.  Baptism too is cleansing (of original sin), renewing, (being called to live as a new person) ritualizing, (marking key moments in life) gathering (bringing the  baptized body of believers together), refashioning (forming us into a new creation), scattering (being Christ in our homes, workplaces and communities), death (dying with Christ to self, ego, pride), and life (living as a child of God forever).

Today then is a day of celebration and challenge.  I celebrate that I, like Jesus, am a child of God.  I too have been anointed and share in Christ’s mission of hope.  I am challenged by the promises made on my behalf at my baptism, promises to remain faithful to God’s covenant of love.

O Lord, thank you for the gift of water and the gift of my baptism.  Continue to refashion me into your own image.  AMEN