Sacrament of Baptism

Both of our scripture readings today talk of encounters with God on a mountain. First, Moses receives God’s Law on Sinai - and teaches his people with a shining face. Second, Jesus takes his disciples up a mountain – and is transfigured – he appears in glory with dazzling clothes and also a changed face.

Now I am not going to talk about the theology of the OT law - or the transfiguration, interesting as that would be. But I am going to highlight their encounter with God. It is my hope that we too will encounter God, in this Church on this mountain (or hill) this morning. Check out people’s faces as you leave, to see if they’re shining? Christians come to Church to worship a living God. Accepted; we sometimes become a bit casual about Church, complacent perhaps, and not always expecting an encounter with God – but if we do encounter God – our faces shine - and sometimes we even smile!

This ‘transfiguration’ or ‘encounter with God’ strengthened Jesus for his journey to Jeruslam. Later it says, he set his face to go to Jerusalem’. As Christians approach Lent – and as we all face the challenges of life - we too need encounters with God, to equip us for this journey.

Now turning to Oscar’s baptism. How does this relate to today? Well as we baptise Oscar into God’s Church, we believe Oscar has an encounter with God. An encounter with God’s grace, God’s undeserved favour and love (grace: from the Hebrew word chen and the Greek word charis). As the 16th-century Anglican theologian, Richard Hooker said, ‘the sacrament of baptism is a visible sign of God’s invisible grace’. So in this sacrament of baptism we believe Oscar will encounter God and receive invisible grace.

In fact, we celebrate two sacraments this morning. The sacrament of baptism and eucharist encountering God’s grace in both. And even if you are not yet baptised, you can come forward for a blessing. One of my favourite quotes is ‘Be kind, for everyone you meet if facing a hard battle’. All of us have challenges in life, some of you have intense challenges right now, why not receive grace, a blessing and encounter with God this morning.?

We will mark Oscar with the sign of a cross, reminding us of the death of Jesus and his defeat of evil; we will baptise Oscar with water, symbolising washing from sin and rising to new life; and we will anoint Oscar with the oil of charism (of grace), giving him a lighted candle, symbolising the light of Christ and the flame of faith beginning in his life.

As Oscar is baptised - St Mary’s congregation (all of us) - will join with the Allen family in committing to pray for him as he joins God’s Church. We remember our own baptism, God invisible grace towards us - and our place in Christ’s body. Of course, Oscar is only a child - without a faith of his own - which is why his parents and Godparents are so important today. You will receive our special prayers.

What you do today is lend your faith to Oscar, and with this liturgy of baptism and the symbols of oil, water and light, you commit to nurture Oscar’s faith. In the hope and expectation that one day Oscar’s faith will be fanned into flame - and as a young person or adult he might confirm – in confirmation – the faith of his parents and godparents (we have a liturgy for that too! – the Church of England - with you every step of the way).