Today is a special day

 Today is a special day.

Every day we have a baptism in our congregation is a special day, but today is extra special.

It is, of course, special for Madeline and Dan as parents of Louis.

Baptism means a lot to people of faith.

It is a ritual that marks the start of a lifelong journey of faith.

It is special for Paul and Kate, the grandparents of Louis.

We have seen throughout the years their faith, and their commitment to that faith.

Paul and Kate are two of the people I know I can count on to help with whatever our congregation needs.

I have leaned on them for advice and help over the 14 years I have been the pastor here.

But today is extra special for our congregation.

It is a rare time, maybe the only time in my years of being a pastor, when someone who grew up in our congregation, whose family has been such an important part of our congregation, has their baby baptized.

For most of the baptisms, I do it is someone who calls up wanting to know if we do baptisms.

They may or may not have some connection to Concordia.

And a lot of times I never see that family again.

Or I don't see them until there is another child, or they need some other type of pastoral care.

I always say yes to every request.

I am joyful when people, for whatever reason, have some desire to be baptized.

 

But most of the time it comes from an idea about baptism that we don't hold.

It is mostly people hedging their bets.

It is people who don't necessarily have a faith commitment, but they believe it is necessary to have their child baptized.

And it is usually for one of two reasons.

One, they believe if they don't have their children baptized their children will go to hell.

Two, they do it out of obligation to their family.

Grandma really wants their kids to be baptized so they do it for that reason.

Just as one example, in my last congregation, there was a couple who wanted to get married in our congregation.

They had a friend to who they promised they would get married in that building.

I presided over the wedding.

I didn't hear from them until they had their first child.

They wanted their child to be baptized.

I happily did the baptism.

After worship, I talked to them and they said, "Well…we'll see you when we have the next kid."

They had no intention of living out the vows they made during the baptism.

 

Let me tell you why I always say, "yes" to anyone who wants to have their children baptized even though I know I will never see them again.

Grace.

I believe in God's grace so much that I don't have to say no to people.

I can give them the blessing of baptism, and then release them to God's care.

I can believe that in some ways that I can't see, and they can't see, their relationship with God will grow through the workings of the Holy Spirit.

 

Because Baptism is not a one-time event.

It is not just about today.

It is about a lifetime of learning about God's grace for us.

It is about a lifetime of growing in our relationship with God.

It is about learning to trust God in all the circumstances of our lives.

I think if we have any witness to offer other people about the importance of faith it is that.

We have learned to trust God even in the worst of circumstances.

Even through death.

I know that people of faith always say, "I don't know how people make it through life without faith in God."

That is a true statement.

It is our faith that helps us to face all the difficult things of life.

That is why today is a great day for Louis and his family.

It is a day when he is given the promise of God's continuing care for him.

Today is the day when Louis is given the invitation to a lifelong relationship with God.

 

And isn't that what Jesus offers his disciples in our Gospel for this morning.

Jesus has what seems like a disjointed discussion with his would-be disciples.

Jesus asks them what they are looking for.

And they respond by asking, Where are you staying?"

The reason these would be disciples ask Jesus this question is because the disciples see Jesus as a Rabbi.

They are asking if they can come and stay with him.

They want to know if Jesus will be their teacher.

What they are seeking is teaching from Jesus.

And Jesus invites them to come and learn.

Jesus invites them to come and see what it means to know God and to have faith in God.

That is what John's Gospel is about.

It is about trusting in Jesus.

It is about knowing God so deeply and intimately that even though the world is coming apart.

Even though things are bad, God is there for you.

Jesus will say in another part of John's Gospel, " In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage: I have conquered the world!”

Even though you sin God is there to forgive you.

And these things can only be learned by having a lifelong relationship with God, and having God with you as you live through difficult things in your life.

 

I know that the Russo family knows this truth.

They live it all the time.

I know that Madeline and Dan know this truth too.

And that is why today is so special because we know that Louis will come to know this truth too.

We know that this faith that we all share is being handed down from one generation to the next.

 

I would also imagine that many people in our congregation this morning are remembering Madeline when she was younger.

I know that whenever I go back to the congregation that I grew up in people will say, "I remember when you were just a little kid running through the church."

Or,  "I remember when you were a teenager and caused all those problems."

I once went back to my home congregation when I was in seminary.

And one of my old Sunday School teachers said, "this is what a good Sunday school program produces."

I indeed learned

faith in that congregation from all of those people, and they all deserve credit for helping me grow up in the faith.

I can imagine similar feelings today in our congregation about Madeline.

Pride in seeing her grow up and do well.

Pride that she sees the benefit in having her child baptized here among us.

The joy that we all get to share at this moment as a congregation.

The joy that this child will get to come and see what God has to offer.

The joy that this child will grow up to know the grace of God in a deep and meaningful way.

 

Today is a special day.

God has invited Louis to come and see.

To know throughout his life of the power, beauty, and wonder of God's grace and love.

May this special day uplift us all.

May it remind us of all of our baptisms.

May it remind us of God's grace for us.

May it remind us of the importance of our church community and the faith we share throughout the generations.

May it remind us that we all grow in learning from Jesus about our God who calls us to come and see God's love and grace all our lives.

Amen