As I have said before, we are blessed to have some of the most precious priests at St. Philip in Franklin. They, like many clergy, bring such light to our parish. And they love to make people laugh. This morning was the Baptism of the Lord, and Father Zack really put a smile on my face.
Father Zack is originally from Kenya and was recently assigned to our parish from Jamaica. He said that, growing up in his village, baptisms were big community events where everyone would bring food and celebrate with the family. One dish that was always a staple was rice, though he never understood why. But, whatever the reason, he told us that he has always associated baptisms with rice. He then shared with us an acronym for rice that helps explain the need for baptism:
R - rebirth
I - initiation
C - consecration
E - empowerment
In baptism, we are born into one body of God, admitted fully into His grace. We are consecrated as servants of God to spread the gospel. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to share our faith and to continue to reject sin.
Jesus, however, had no original sin to reject. He did not need baptism to obtain grace. But He still asks John to baptize Him in the Jordan, in order to show us the power and renewal of baptism.
Acts 10:38 tells us that God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power. And then, after His baptism, He went about doing good and healing those afflicted by Satan. It is that same Spirit and power that God bestows upon us at our baptism.
There is a song on Christian radio right now called, "Same Power," performed by Jeremy Camp. The chorus says:
"The same power that rose Jesus from the grave,
The same power that commands the dead to wake,
Lives in us, lives in us,
The same power that moves mountains when He speaks,
The same power that can calm a raging sea,
Lives in us, lives in us,
He lives in us, lives in us."
What an amazing gift our salvation is! Through our baptism, we receive power strong enough to move mountains and bring life to others! I pray that I never take this gift for granted and that I continue to renew my baptismal promise every day.