This morning we (will) gather with DeWayne and Jennifer to celebrate with them as little Marissa is baptized into the household of God. It is a joyous morning as St. Paul's joins all of heaven in the party that welcomes Marissa into the fold. It is a day for white dresses, giggling babies, and lovely scripture verses that tell of our adoption in God's own family. Instead we hear Jesus saying things like, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" and "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword". From Hagar and Ishmael being cast out into the desert to Jesus' very uncomfortable words of encouragement to his disciples this week is a tough set of lessons, especially with a baptism.
It seems to happen more often than not. I end up standing in this pulpit wondering aloud what I think we are all thinking, "why these lessons? Why not fluffy bunnies and white dresses?" What I realized in these lessons this week is really a lesson for me. My worldview is upside down again. God doesn't exist to please me - I exist to please God. So then the question goes from "why these lessons?" to "how do we go about pleasing God?" Above all else, to please God, Jesus tells us, we are to trust in God and have no fear. To trust God fully means a life of constant surprises. To trust God fully means dealing with the question, "what did you expect?"
William Willimon was for some time the Dean of the Chapel at Duke University. As the Dean he dealt with all sorts of people as they related to Duke; students, faculty, staff, visitors, and parents. He often sponsored mission trips for the students to spend spring break serving the poor in Latin America, building houses in rural North Carolina, etc. A young student came back very charged about what God was doing in her life and felt called to focus her studies on international affairs so that she might one day be a foreign missionary. When this got back to mom and dad, they were less than happy and came to pay Dean Willimon a visit. "We encouraged her to attend chapel so she'd be a good person and maybe find a good husband," they said to him. His response was polite and to the point, "God had something different in mind for your daughter." (i can't find this story again so i used what i remembered) Had he not been such a kind hearted man, his answer could have easily been, "it sounds like your priorities are all wrong, God's expectations of us are much higher than becoming a good person and finding a good spouse."
Willimon's story comes to mind for me this morning as it raises that question, "Well, what did you expect?" It is a question that should be at the forefront of Dewayne and Jennifer's mind today. What do they expect for little Marissa as she grows up and grows into faith in Jesus Christ? It is a question that should be at the forefront of our minds as well as we take the vow to do all in our power to support Marissa in her life in Christ. It is a question that should be at the forefront of our minds each and everyday as we "go in peace to love and serve the Lord."
For Jesus' disciples, the answer is clear, expect hardships. "They call me Satan," Jesus says, "and I'm the teacher, just imagine what they'll call you." "But have no fear..." Jesus continues, "for there are no secrets in my kingdom." Jesus doesn't promise them safety and security - only that their mission will succeed. "While they are on duty delivering their message, they will be guarded, but even this does not exclude [them from] martyrdom. One way or another, the message will be delivered. That is what is important." (1) The danger is real and present, but the expectation is that they trust and live beyond fear - for even in death they will receive their reward.
As Paul writes in Romans, the expectations remain the same for those of us baptized into the body of Christ after his death, resurrection, and ascension. For us, Paul writes, we are expected to live in trust and without fear because we have already died and rose from the dead.
The preferred method for baptism, even in our own 1979 Prayer Book, is full immersion. In that outward and visible sign the true gravity of baptism is made clear. As the candidates are fully immersed, as if drowning, as if being buried, those who witness the event get a real sense that something has really died. As the candidate then rises from the water it is as if they have been raised to new life, they have escaped the tomb, they have joined with Jesus in the resurrection life. Having defeated death once in baptism then, we are called upon to have no fear of death, for even as our physical bodies die, we remain alive as resurrected members of the Body of Christ.
This is clearly not what liturgical architects expected from baptism as fonts became smaller, less utilitarian, and more ornate. What they expected has, I think, defined what we expect, a polite service where some water gets splashed and smiles abound. Theologically speaking, however, it is clear that baptism is serious stuff. Vows are not to be taken lightly. Think about the other places in our common life where vows are taken; in marriage, at ordinations, at inaugurations; the stakes are always high. The stakes high are very high, Jesus tells us, for those who choose to proclaim with him that the Kingdom of God is near.
"What did you expect?" is a question that I often ask myself. Vacation Bible School is for kids from age 4 through grade 6 - what did you expect? It is a Saturday afternoon in June and you're going south on 59 - what did you expect? You left the dog in the backyard for 6 hours and he dug a hole - what did you expect? It is a question that I most definitely need to ask more often about my expectations of God and a life of faith. We shouldn't expect it to be easy. We shouldn't expect it to be all white dresses and smile. And while we're at it, we should expect that with God in control we need not fear.
As we welcome a new member into the household of God today, we each bring our own set of expectations for her. Of course the expectations that matter most are those of DeWayne and Jennifer, but it seems as though even their expectations may pale in comparison with what God has planned for little Marissa. There are literally millions of different ways her life could play out and chances are that however it happens, it won't be what anyone expected, but that seems to be the point. What pleases God is so often not what we expected for ourselves or for our loved ones. Don't settle for your own expectations, God's are much greater. Amen.
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