MEDITATIONS ON THE BAPTISMAL PROMISES

By the Rev. Bette Pollock, York Harbor, Maine

Will you continue in the apostle's teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers? I will, with God's help.

When we were newly-weds, my husband's job took us to a new town, a long way from home. I was a stranger in the land. I felt so alone, with my husband gone all day, even on Sundays, and no one to talk to. Then on Sunday morning I heard the church bells ringing and ventured into the Episcopal church on the corner. It was a beautiful church with the sun bathing the walls in soft light. The sermon was inspiring, the choir sang perfectly, the Eucharist was healing. I felt better.

"Well, back to unpacking," I thought and started to slip out the door. But no one went unnoticed in this place. The usher stopped me to say hello, beckoned to a couple about my age to come and meet me, and then I was meeting (it seemed like) everyone. They invited me to breakfast and from that moment on I 'belonged', no more a stranger in the land. My husband and I became Episcopalians in this church and, as we moved to other towns, the church was the first place we visited. We always found a home and friends there.

Do you realize what a great gift it is when you welcome a stranger into your midst?

Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church, that we all may be one.
Prayers of the People, Form III, Book of Common Prayer, p 387.

Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and turn to the Lord? I will, with God's help.

Once in confirmation class we were discussing sin and repentance. We said sin is doing those things we know are wrong. It is being separated from God because I'm doing it my way instead of God's way. But, even so (I said), if we truly repent, God will forgive us.

Phillip, a 13 year old with a devilish glint in his eye, said, "You mean, that if I'm a really big sinner all my life, if I steal and murder and always do my own thing, that on my death bed I can ask God to forgive me ---and God will?!" "Yes," I said. "If you are sincerely sorry and really mean it God will forgive you all your sins ---but if you've been in the habit of doing everything by yourself , are you sure you will remember God and know how to ask?"

The habits of life are hard to break. It is certain that we do things that are wrong in God's sight. So we promise that whenever we fall into sin, we will repent and turn to the Lord. We promise to persevere in resisting evil. I can do it, only with God's help.

Do you remember to ask God for help?

Most merciful God.....For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen. (General Confession, Book of Common Prayer)

Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Jesus Christ" I will, with God's help.

When four year old Amy was baptized, she took the words and actions to heart. After I anointed her forehead with oil "and marked (her) as Christ's own forever," she persistently tugged on her mother's arm to finally get her attention. She demanded to have the little mirror her mother carried in her purse. "I want to see Jesus on my forehead," she said.

"Proclamation" with a capital 'P' refers us to a big, important, earthshaking Good News...as in 'God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall have everlasting life."

"proclamation" with a small 'p' is everything we say and do about it. Everything! What a sobering thought. In other words, everything we say and do proclaims what kind of Christian we are.

While the cross marked on your forehead is not a visible sign that we are Christ's own forever, our words and actions clearly tell whose we are. When we truly live what we believe our proclamation is Good News.

If Jesus' name was indelibly marked on your forehead would it change your behavior?

"..grant us strength and courage to love and serve you with gladness and singleness of heart..." (from the Prayer of Thanksgiving, Book of Common Prayer, p365)

Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? I will, with God's help.

Bill once worked for a boss who was truly unlovable. He never smiled. He yelled orders instead of asking politely. He never gave compliments, but always demeaned the efforts of those who worked for him. Bill was miserable. "I'm beginning to hate this man. What can I do?" The best advice I could think of was, "Pray for the boss, and for yourself! Pray that he may find peace of mind and love in his heart. And, especially pray for yourself , that you may come to understand him, and to love him, too."

"At first,"Bill told me, "I gritted my teeth and forced myself to say those prayers. But, little by little, I began to mean them. My heart thawed a little and I began to see the boss in a new light. And now, we're beginning to be friends! Thanks be to God.... and to the power of prayer."

Who do you need to pray for today?

"The first and great commandment is this: Love God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. The second is like unto it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:30-31)

Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? I will, with God's help.

I grew up in a small town in a seemingly idyllic time before World Was II. My neighborhood was pretty much my world. My world expanded when I went to high school. I met some new friends and we were all accepting of one another....except for some unwritten rules that I had to learn. Peter was Jewish and therefore I should not associate with him outside of school. Mark was Catholic and I certainly would not date him. Patty was black and she stayed "on her own side of town." I took that for granted.

Now I understand how wrong and cruel such unthinking discrimination is. What difference does religion or nationality or skin color make? What really matters is that each one of us is precious in God's sight. In Sunday School I learned a song which says:

"Jesus loves the little children,
All the children of the world.
Red and Yellow, Black and White,
All are precious in his sight."

Jesus is "color blind." Are you?

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease;that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus,Our Lord. (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, p.823)

Bibliography

A review of Living Water by Klara Tammany

A good source of Baptism Books

Baptism RAP