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Calvary Episcopal ChurchGeorge Yandell
Memphis, Tennessee
January 19,, 2003
The Second Sunday after Epiphany


This Is a Big Deal, So Act Like It!
The Rev. George S. Yandell

Gospel: John 1:43-51
(This sermon is also available in audio.)

In 1977 I had an Epiphany. Henry Rightor, wise priest and professor at Virginia Theological Seminary asked the class in Pastoral Theology, "Who do we baptize in the Episcopal Church?" We students offered lots of responses to Henry. He shook his head in disgust and dismay saying, "Wrong, wrong, wrong. We baptize everybody who requests it, no questions asked. We baptize anyone who desires it because that's what Jesus intended--no barriers, no hurdles, no exclusions." Henry also said no deacon or priest worth his/her salt would ever baptize anyone without preparation. He said, "People have to know what they're getting into; this baptism is once for all, no going back, it's a big deal, so act like it!" Somehow I'd always thought baptism was a cozy, nice little event, a "Christening" as we used to call it, mostly done in private, at a time convenient for one family only.

What a remarkable public event today. We have witnessed the transformation of five young people into Christians. In company with their five families, we have all baptized them in union with God. We have proclaimed that there are no barriers now between them and God. We have all been renewed in our own baptisms. At this moment, these five children are the newest members of the communion of saints. If we listen closely, we can hear all the saints singing in joy to receive them into the household of faith.

What does it mean for each of them, each of us to have no barriers, no boundaries between us and God?

Three things, at least:

1..No barriers between us and God means we have instant, constant access to God without any mediators. Jesus has opened God's domain to us. We are naked before God, and God is open to us. That's a pretty scary thought, isn't it? Nathanael learned that lesson in his first contact with Jesus. "Wow, Jesus, you know who I am. You really are God's Son!" No barriers means we are free, absolutely free to call on God and be called on by God. When Jesus says, "Follow me," it's not the other guy he's pointing to, it's you and me.

2. No barriers means we are kin to every other Christian in every age of the Church. Like it or not, we are family with Coptic Christians in Ethiopia, with Southern Baptists in Dallas, and with Russian Orthodox believers in Ukraine. Every baptized person who has lived and died is our mother, father, sister and brother. We carry the promise for the whole world that we all can be one, as God and Jesus are one. Our kinship group stands out because of our belief that God became human, lived and died for us, and was raised anew on Easter. This God, Jesus the baptized one, sits at the head of our family meal, each and every time we gather. Every one is welcome at that table.

3. No barriers means we are accountable personally for the promises made for us, and that we make in baptism. Since we freely enter this baptism contract, and since it can never be cancelled, it means we can't escape responsibility for the vows we make. These children baptized here today may choose later on whether to live into their promises, but they can never cut the cord that binds them in relationship to Jesus. Their sponsors--their parents and godparents--are to tend to their upbringing personally. Each of us has vowed to support them in their life in Christ. These are binding promises, but freely fulfilled. If and when we fall short, God forgives us. If we turn our backs on God, God keeps seeking us. We have died and been raised with Christ. That's the way it is.

Louis Weil has said there's only one sacrament in the Church, Baptism. Weil said that Eucharist is the repeatable part of baptism. It's all about our initiation into Christ, and being reminded whose we are, what God has done for us in Christ, and what we do in response. It's all here before us. In a moment we will feast at God's table, Christ is here with us. As you move to receive Christ's body and blood, be renewed in your faith, and then carry yourself into God's world in witness to all God has done for us. As Henry Rightor said, "This is a big deal, so act like it!"

Copyright 2003 Calvary Episcopal Church

Gospel: John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49Nathanael replied,
"Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." NRSV

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