I will, with Gods help

Episcopal Church on Edisto

Mark 8:27-28, Acts 2:42 and Baptismal Covenant

Proper 15, Series C

August 14, 2016

Grant, Almighty God, that we, who have been redeemed for the
old life of sin by our baptism into the death and resurrection of
your Son Jesus Christ, may be renewed in your Holy Spirit, and
live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
In addition to the Holy Eucharist you and I have participated in
two very special services these two Sundays Baptism last
Sunday and now Confirmation. The spiritual birth into the
family of God in Christ, the affirmation of this gift of life in
Christ, and the nurturing of that body, the Church, in the
breaking of bread are awesome experiences. Wow!
I am particularly blessed because these events of Baptism and
Confirmation have given me an opportunity to do something
that I especially enjoy sharing the Christian Faith with others.
In the Episcopal Church the clergy are directed to offer
instruction before any sacrament is administered, including
baptism and confirmation.

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I met with the parents and godparents of Noemi before the

baptism last Sunday. This gave us an opportunity to explore
what it means to become a member of a new family, the Body of
Christ, the Christian Church. Noemi is now a member of two
families the Gentry family and the Christian family. We are
her sisters and brothers. Im sure that you remember your role
as a big sister or big brother to Noemi. Just in case you missed
last Sunday, Ill repeat myself. Will you by your prayers and
witness help this child to grow into the full statute of Christ?
(Book of Common Prayer, page 302)

Yes, those words were the vows of

the parents and godparents, but by implication they are our

promises too. Will you who witness these vows do all in your
power to support Noemi in her life in Christ? (Book of Common
Prayer, page 303)

Each baptism for me is an affirmation of my own

membership in the Body of Christ, my Christian family. Thanks

be to God!
Do you remember your confirmation? I certainly do. I was 13
years old. In those olden days we were required to memorize
the Catechism. I was lucky. At the same time I was studying
the Catechism, I was in a Little Theatre play, Life with Father.
I played Whitney Day, a young boy who was preparing for

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confirmation. Most of my lines in the play required me to recite

the Catechism. I got two for one on that occasion. Im sorry
to say I remember the play much better than I remember the
confirmation service.
In the weeks before confirmation I met with Emilie, Billy and
their presenters. We talked about and discussed the questions
and answers as written in The Outline of the Faith, commonly
called the Catechism. No, Emilie and Billy did not have to
memorize it. If you are interested it is found in your Prayer
Book on page 845. (It makes good reading on Sunday during a
boring sermon.)
In the end I suggested to them that there are two elements that
denote a mature affirmation of baptismal vows. Two passages
of Scripture say it better than I can. First from the Gospel of
Mark: WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THAT I AM? .. BUT WHO
DO YOU SAY THAT I AM? (Mark 8:27-28) And now from the
Acts of the Apostles: THEY DEVOTED THEMSELVES TO
THE APOSTLES TEACHING AND FELLOWSHIP, TO THE
BREAKING OF BREAD AND THE PRAYERS. (Acts 2:42) Every
confirmation instruction is a way for me to reaffirm my

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own commitment to who Jesus is in my life and my devotion to

his family, the Christian Church, and our mission in the world.
There is another element that is common to baptism and
confirmation. Here is our occasion (yours and mine) to say who
Jesus is for us and how this relationship is played out in our
lives. Bishop Buchanan will say to us, Let us join with Emilie
and William who are committing themselves to Christ and
renew our own baptismal covenant. (Book of Common Prayer, page 417)
We then say together the Apostles Creed. Note, this creed says,
I believe. This is an individual, personal affirmation. This is
who Jesus is to me. Normally in the Holy Eucharist, we use the
Nicene Creed We believe which is the common
declaration of the universal Christian Church. In the baptismal
covenant an individual is affirming his or her incorporation into
the we of the Church. As I have said on other occasions, the
Apostles Creed is in the baptismal covenant is followed by what
I call So What?
If I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior, what am I
going to do about this relationship in my life? How does this

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affirmation impact my life and my engagement in the world

around me? How do I, how do you, live out your faith?
First I affirm that my life in Christ is nurtured in the same way
as the early disciples of Jesus: THEY DEVOTED
THEMSELVES TO THE APOSTLES TEACHING AND
FELLOWSHIP, TO THE BREAKING OF BREAD AND THE
PRAYERS. (Acts 2:42)
I also acknowledge that I will fail in my efforts to be Christs
ambassador in my world. Not if I fail, but whenever I fail.
We Christians are redeemed sinners, but sinners nevertheless.
Again with St. Francis: Proclaim the Gospel. If necessary, use
words! There is that witness stuff again.
The fulfillment of the commandments of the Lord (yes, all 613
of them) is to see and to respond to each and every person as we
did with Noemi and do with Emilie and Billy love one another
as brothers and sisters in Christ.
God did not created all people in your image or mine. SO GOD
CREATED HUMANKIND IN HIS IMAGE, IN THE

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IMAGINE OF GOD HE CREATED THEM; MALE AND

FEMALE HE CREATED THEM. GOD BLESSED THEM
(Genesis 2:27-28)

AND SO IT WAS. GOD SAW EVERYTHING

THAT HE HAD MADE, AND INDEED, IT WAS VERY

GOOD.

(Genesis 2:30-31)

You know, to recognize and respect the

dignity of every human being (Book of Common Prayer, page 417) is a

monumental task, except for an amazing fact.
St. Paul reminds us of this fact in Colossians: THE RICHES
OF THE GLORY OF THIS MYSTERY, WHICH IS CHRIST IN
YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. (Colossians 1:27) Yes, Noemi,
Emilie and Billy, you and I are the dwelling place of Christ here
on earth. We are the Body of Christ. We are Gods hope of
glory. It remains for us to proclaim and witness in our lives
this wondrous truth.
We come here as those early disciples did. FOR I RECEIVED
FROM THE LORD WHAT I ALSO HANDED ON TO YOU,
THE LORD JESUS ON THE NIGHT WHEN HE WAS
BETRAYED TOOK A LOAF OF BREAD, AND WHEN HE
HAD GIVEN THANKS, HE BROKE IT AND SAID, THIS IS
MY BODY THAT IS FOR YOU. DO THIS IN

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REMEMBRANCE OF ME. AND THE SAME WAY HE

TOOK THE CUP ALSO, AFTER SUPPER, SAYING, THIS
CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD. DO
THIS, AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE
OF ME. .. FOR AS OFTEN AS YOU EAT THIS BREAD
AND DRINK THIS CUP, YOU PROCLAIM THE LORDS
DEATH UNTIL HE COMES. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26) We can,
because we are the Body of Christ.

Let us pray:
O God, who created all people in your image, we thank you for
the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world.
Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and
show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until
our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all
your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer.
Amen.

The Reverend Dr. Colton M. Smith

One Bishop Gadsden Way, Apt. 346
Charleston, SC 29412