From The Hermitage at Cedarfield's 2015 Lenten devotional, April 2, 2015:
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth
of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan
And the Spirit immediately drove him
out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness forty days, tempted by
Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him.
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came
to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God,
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and
the kingdom God
- Mark 1:9-15 (NRSV)
I
keep several reminders around of my baptism: a certificate, blanket, and dress.
But more important is the constant reminder of God’s grace: the grace that comes from a voice that calls
me “beloved,” that constantly tells me I am “chosen” and marked by God’s love.
That’s the true meaning of our baptism: God’s grace is with us throughout our
entire journey of faith, through good and bad, and in return, we are called to
be faithful disciples and examples of Christ’s love to the world.
From the moment of his
baptism, Jesus came up from the water a changed man. He was a man on a mission, a man bent on
bringing the message of an intimate, merciful, liberating God to all
people. He took on this mission, knowing
that it would cost him his life. We’ve
been given the same mission. Are we living witnesses to the power of our
baptism?
This day and every day, dear God, help us remember the truth of our
baptism: we are claimed; we are chosen as your beloved; we are empowered to
step out in faith to make a difference in the world. Equip us, God, for the mission. Amen.
My baptism, April 1961, with Granddaddy "Lefty" Harrington, me and my Dad, Mom, and Grandmother Harrington
The next generations, Sara and Cael, with Mom today, April 3, 2015
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