Baptism
is a unique and special moment in our Christian journey. You may have been a
baby or small child at the time and not remember the occasion of your
‘christening’. Alternatively, you may have been old enough to have your own
distinct memories of what happened. You may even have been a teenager or
adult making a very conscious decision to follow Christ and been baptised by
full immersion or as part of a Confirmation Service.
Whatever
your individual situation it is good to consider how you describe what your
Baptism means to you. Do you say “I was baptised….” or do you say “I
am baptised and it is something I am living and exploring each day of
my life.” Baptism shapes our lives and we need to be conscious of it.
Through the water of Baptism it is as if we are buried with Christ and
raised with him to new life
(Romans 6).
Through it we know we are children of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus
Christ, part of the family of the Church, called to grow in our love,
relationship and knowledge of God and to love and serve each other and our
neighbours in his name.
Then in
Bishop Michael’s words “Of course beyond the font is the table, the altar.
One of the privileges that follow from our Baptism and, in the Anglican way
of doing things, from our Confirmation, is our participation in the
Eucharist, sharing in the consecrated bread and wine, receiving a share in
the life of Christ, being renewed by the Holy Spirit. Here is an amazing
means of grace and I want to encourage those who have not yet been admitted
to Communion to take the step that will draw them into an experience that
will draw them deeper into communion with Jesus.”
May we
reflect on this individually and as a church and rejoice in God’s gift of
baptism – to us and to all he draws to himself.
Philippa
