A Sermon for the Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
The Rev. Patricia Gillespie
Amos 7:7-15
Psalm 85:7-13
Ephesians 1:1-14
Mark 6:7-13
Last month I went on a journey. And I'm rather glad I didn't review today's gospel reading before going. It would have been a difficult trip if I used Jesus' packing list: no bread, no bag, no money . . . only a staff, a pair of sandals, and one tunic.
Well, on my trip to the Holy Lands, I did take only the one pair of sandals. . . . and I wore them out. I confess that I did take a big bag . . . and a second, smaller bag for the computer and cameras. And I didn't take any bread . .. but I'm not certain Jesus would have approved of the peanut M&Ms I took instead. I packed rather more than one tunic to wear. I took a big wad of dollar bills for tips. And two Visa cards.
As long as I had those cards, everyone welcomed me, so I didn't have to leave anywhere, shaking the dust off my feet.
I guess Jesus hopes his followers will be welcomed for his sake instead of just for their wardrobe or their Visa cards. Travel light, Jesus tells us. Rely on the Christian community to take care of you. Take just the basics, Jesus orders -- walking stick, sandals, and simple clothing.
But there is one other thing that Jesus tells his friends to take with them on their journey. "Jesus began to send them out two by two ....."
Don't go alone. Take a friend. That's a kind of bottom line about being a Christian. Don't try to do it alone. We believe that God is with us always, but we are PROMISED that presence "when two or three are gathered in his name." When we serve God we do it together. Even a bishop cannot celebrate the Eucharist alone. Neither a rector nor senior warden is supposed to make church decisions alone. All of our ministry is shared. I can't preach without you. Even writing a sermon is not done in isolation.
So this week, when I knew we were going to have baptism at Good Samaritan, I looked for a sermon helper who knew something about baptism. I thought and prayed about Jesus' followers, who were fishermen. I thought and prayed about water. I remembered sailing on the Sea of Galilee. I remembered walking in the Jordon River.
Though it looks like it,
that's not the Sauk River on the front of your bulletin.
The Jordon, somehow, didn't match my mental picture of it.
And when I stepped into the river,
instead of having a profound spiritual experience,
I found my legs being examined by lots of friendly little fish!
So today, in addition to bringing a bottle of Jordon River water for Emmett's baptism,
I brought a fish to help me preach.
He's not from the Jordon River.
Do you know him?
He's a big mouth bass.
The prophets are always using odd things to make a point about God.
So, just like Amos used that plumb line, we're going to use this fish.
What do you think our friend Big Mouth Billy Bass has to teach us about baptism? Something about evangelism, like fishing for people? Or maybe something about community, like swimming in schools instead of all alone?
BILLY sings: "Take me to the river ... drop me in the water." (Click on Billy's picture, to download a video to see and hear him sing.)
Billy Bass is right. Like fish, we need water to live. We need baptism to find life. Like a fish in water, it is in God that "we live and move and have our being."
Sometimes it takes someone else to "drop us in the water." We call them sponsors or Godparents. No one can be a Christian all alone. We all need others to take us to the river.
But once Godfather Nick takes little Emmett to the river
and drops in him in the water,
or at least presents him for baptism,
then Emmett becomes a church member, that is, part of the Body of Christ.
Then things are different, right?
In baptism, we're all cleaned up, we live in Christ. So then we shouldn't need godparents or others to put us in the water anymore, right? . . . Has anybody here stayed clean and perfect since your baptism? Baptism doesn't make us perfect. We all still make mistakes, hurt others, and generally dirty up our lives.
That's when we need each other most. That's when Christians, two by two, can work miracles. We can take each other to the river. We can wash each other clean again when we forgive each other and remember that God forgives us.
Today as Emmett's parents and godparents make promises for him, and his congregation promises to support him, all of us will renew our own baptismal promises. It's a bit like singing with Big Mouth Billy Bass, "Take me to the river, put me in the water."
Together in the water of baptism we are all washed clean, forgiven, and blessed. Blessing happens when we come together in Jesus' name.
Yesterday Emmett, at only nine months, made it clear that he already knows a good Christian song about blessing. It's not Billy's song about "Take me to the river."
You probably remember that "blessing" means "happy." We Episcopalians are willing to admit that we are blessed, but we don't often remember just what that means. Being a Christian means being happy. So maybe we should try translating the words of Emmett's song: "If you're blessed and you know it, clap your hands."
To be happy and know it – that's a blessing for the Christian journey.
"Travel light," Jesus tells us. For the journey you only need the basics to be happy. Just take a friend, and you will be blessed.
So, my friend and fellow preacher, Big Mouth Billy,
I'm going to let you have the last word.
What's the bottom line about blessing and baptism?
BILLY sings: "Don't worry, be happy." (Click on Billy's picture, to download a video to see and hear him sing.)
Don't worry. You're blessed.