Sunday Homily, January 10, 2016, The Baptism
Readings:
Isaiah 40, 1-5, 9-11, Go up to a high mountain, Zion, cry out at the top of your voice. (another excellent reading, this time from Isaiah II)
Psalm 104, Bless the Lord My Soul.
Pope Francis, Laudato Si:
A Reading from Pope Francis’ Letter on the Environment:
When we speak of the “environment”, what we really mean is a relationship existing between nature and the society which lives in it.
Nature, the environment, cannot be regarded as something separate from ourselves, a mere setting in which we live. We are part of nature, included in it and in constant interaction with it.
Zoe say, "Welcome, Everybody, it is sunny and warm here."
It is critical to seek comprehensive solutions which consider the interactions within natural systems themselves and with social systems.
We are faced not with two separate crises, one environmental and the other social, but rather with one complex crisis which is both social and environmental.
Strategies for a solution demand an integrated approach: combating poverty, restoring dignity to the excluded, and protecting nature and our entire environment.
The words of Pope Francis.
Luke 3, 15-16, 21-22, The baptism of Jesus.
Angela, too, says, "Hi, "Everybody, welcome in."
Baptism & Original Sin: traditional & contemporary theology
Traditional theology on baptism & original sin:
- Why we baptized: purification & removal of original sin inherited by babies. Baby was a sinner & would go to Limbo forever if not baptized before dying.
- Original sin: the 1 sin of Eve & Adam, the eating of an apple, ruptured the relationship between God & Humans.
Two of our more studious community members, Brandon & Leo.
Contemporary theology on baptism & original sin:
- Original sin: (first)
- no original sin
- Genesis story of the fall is allegory, not fact
- from Darwin's Origin of the Species the idea has developed that in our human infancy, we needed certain behaviors to survive. For instance, killing another person & stealing (like food), to survive. As our ancestors formed communities, norms of social behavior emerged, for example, the 10 commandments.
- St. Augustine, ca. 400:
–A major, if not the major influence on Christian/Catholic theology of original sin and human nature from his time to today
–After conversion from a rather lusty life at 32, he had a pessimistic view of human nature, different from early Christianity. This is part of the background to why priests were supposed to be celibate.
Leo & Brandon, the Candle Lighters of The Week.
–John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople (Istanbul), Pelagius, a British monk, & Julian of Eclanum, Italy, a bishop, all found nature good and fought against Augustine
–Augustine used all means to vanquish his opponents with their positive view that nature was good, even to sending a gift of horses to the pope to influence his decision. Augustine won.
Why we baptize today: (using the contemporary theology)
- To celebrate a new life
- To ritually & formally welcome the new person into a family, a community, and to a God famous for love and acceptance
- To cleanse after the journey
Anybody know who these characters are? At Juliet's Restaurant?
The Beauty of Little Kids is for Real
I would like to continue to talk about why we baptize little kids, at least here in our community. I mentioned that what we are celebrating is new life. Moreover, we are welcoming the child into a family, a community, and a God who loves that child and thinks the child is the best, as good as it gets.
Sometimes we get distracted and don’t see this. The child may be crying a lot or we may still think of the child as a sinner. Appearances distract us and we judge negatively.
The Best, Shonda, Bethany, Ray, David.
This is pretty common and I have two examples, one of which you ladies who went to the luncheon will recognize. Rosemary shared it.
It happened this way. Rosemary was going to get something at Kohls this past week. She gets out of the car in the parking lot and starts walking in. Ahead of her a young guy with pants hanging low in the current fashion steps ahead of her.
As they walk toward the store, he is working at putting on a belt.
I admit that I don’t find this custom attractive when I see it in guys, which is exactly why young guys do it.
The Team cleaning up after communion.
Anyway, he finally gets his belt on and they arrive at the entrance door about the same time, he in front, Rosemary behind.
Guess what happened. The guy opened the door. Then he stepped back and invited Rosemary to go in. As Rosemary told me and probably told you ladies at Urban Rio, she was humbled and grateful. She had misjudged the guy.
A second event happened to us both this week. We have a nice mail man, Doug, easy going, faithful, and friendly. We are all on first name basis.
Elevation.
At Christmas we stuck a thanks note and a $20 in an envelope for him. Guess what happened. We get a hand written thank you note and card.
I was so touched. In fact, I felt pretty miserly giving him only $20. I was touched because I did not expect him to show gratitude in such a formal way. Rosemary said it is a sign that his mother trained him well. I remember my mother repeatedly saying to me, “Always thank every person who gives you something.”
In one week here are two people who have caused Rosemary & me to misjudge them.
Babies and little kids can be misjudged. That kid cries too much. That kid screams too much. Maybe the child is hurting.
Offertory, Bill & Zaile, Lynda & Tom.
This is why here I try to make our community especially welcoming and loving. I want all these kids, Genevieve & Leo, Brandon, Cole, Harper, Emma & Zoe, Buddy & Tori, all of these and the others who come occasionally to know & feel that they are loved, welcomed, and treasured. They are good, beautiful, and a gift to me and all of us.
Misjudge anybody this week?