"A SACRED MOMENT"

I am concerned, alarmed would be too strong of a word, that we are losing a sense of the sacred. The Christian Church has only been given two rites or rituals (Baptism and Communion). These are both sacred events that point to the same thing (the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus). It should be noted that one is something that is done to us and the other is done by us. Both are participation in the divine drama of salvation, the saving action of God. In these we become participants of divine grace.

Our familiarity with each of these sacred acts often leads us to debate them rather than practice them. The New Testament church accepted these and practice them as part of their living faith. They joined in as participants in the living history of God's transforming and transcendent act of salvation. That is why the language of baptism and communion is inclusive language. You find words like united with and clothed with for baptism. The language of communion is share and participate. How is it that matters that are intended to draw people together have become so divisive?

These are, beyond doubt sacred acts in the truest sense of the word. Sacred, sacrifice and sacrament come into English from Latin. The Latin sacra means holy, consecrated and sacred. The communion as a sacrament points to a consecrated event or person ("do this in remembrance of me..."). The communion as sacrifice is a reenactment of the sin offering presented by God and to God (the crucifixion of Jesus). These same points can be made for baptism.

We invest a lot of time and effort in debating the why and how of baptism. This is not something that the New Testament writers did (debating the issue). They simply said to do it and the people willingly participated. They also present it in the Epistles as something that members of the body had already done in the past ("as many of you as have been" or "were" this is the language of the scripture reflected as a past event and a present reality). We present ourselves to God as "living sacrifices holy and acceptable to God..." The consecrated life a living sacrament honoring God.

These are sacred events and actions. Let us focus on the sacredness of the moment. Share in this holy event by honoring the transcendent and transforming God. We remember the mercy of God who acted for us and who is active in us during these sacred moments and beyond.

Just some things to think about along the way!

Bob