Saturday, March 17, 2007

Lent Reading Day 22

Baptism of Jesus:

Matthew 3:13-17

What does it mean to be "beloved"? In the end baptism is all about love - the experiential and sensory statement of a nearly-invisible-proclamation that God loves us before we're aware, before we're asking, before we love God back. Even in the story we see that John says to Jesus basically "you're coming to me, before I can come to you!?" Isn't that what it means to be beloved? I feel that the most in my life knowing that my partner is going to pursue me, ask me about what's going on, encourage me when I'm discouraged, fight for and alongside me sometimes before even I fully grasp the fight that needs to happen in life for more freedom and fullness. Baptism is one of my favorite experiences - and such a privelege to do as a pastor with others....yesterday in church we used the baptismal font during the confession time in service, remember the words of St Patrick's Breastplate - a promise of God's solidarity, presence, and before-baptismal love - like the words, the water of baptism surrounds, engulfs and inundates us on all sides - before, after, left, right, under, above. What better experiential metaphor for being beloved!

St Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through the belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the onenessOf the Creator of Creation.

I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth with his baptism,
Through the strength of his crucifixion with his burial,
Through the strength of his resurrection with his ascension,
Through the strength of his descent for the judgment of Doom.

I arise today Through the strength of the love of Cherubim,
In obedience of angels, In the service of archangels,
In hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In prayers of patriarchs, In predictions of prophets,
In preaching of apostles, In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins, In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today Through the strength of heaven:
Light of sun, Radiance of moon, Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning, Swiftness of wind,Depth of sea,
Stability of earth, Firmness of rock.

I arise today Through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me,God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save meFrom snares of devils,
From temptations of vices, From everyone who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear, Alone and in multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,...
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me abundance of reward.

Christ with me,
Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today Through a mighty strength,
the invocation of the Trinity,Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness, Of the Creator of Creation.