“WASHED”
2 Kings 5.1-14; Romans 6. 1-11; Saint Mark 1.8
Lent Midweek Mass 5: 26 March Anno Domini 2020
Father Jay Watson SSP
The first half of the Small Catechism, the first 3 of the 6 chief parts give us the “What” of Salvation—Law which kills, Gospel which brings life, and then the fruits of gratefulness in our communication with our Savior.
The second half of the Catechism gives us the “How.” Jesus indeed lived, suffered, died, and rose again for you 2,000 years ago. But you are not there. You received nothing at Calvary even though everything at Calvary and the Open Tomb on Easter, and Pentecost mission in fact are the epochal moments in Church History. No, God works through earthly and ordinary “means,” i.e. tools, instruments, channels, path-ways, concrete delivery systems of all of His Work and Person, for you. We call these Sacraments because the Church calls them Sacraments. The Church is where they are located for you. They are still all the Word of God. The Word made Flesh, Jesus, literally, actually, truly, comes to you in The Word as it is attached to fleshly, physical, “means.” The first of These Life and Eternity giving Jesus-gifts, i.e. Grace, Forgiveness, Peace, comes in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism—the 4th Chief Part. This does not diminish one whit the Word of God orally proclaimed. In fact, the preaching of The Word of God, in sermons, are the very animating and loosing words of Jesus which are attached to water, absolving hand & words, and bread and wine, which makes normal things Absolving and Life-giving things. How does God save you? By Holy + Baptism: You are Baptized.
The English word Baptism is the transliteration of the Greek word “Baptidzo” and simply means to “wash with water.” It does not mean completely immerse (though there’s nothing wrong with dunking) it means “wash with water.” It is not optional: “Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, ‘Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in The Name of The Father and of + The Son and of The Holy Ghost’” [Mt. 28.19]. But it is not just water, it’s no mere scrubbing sweat or dirt off your forehead when you’ve been exercising or working on the car; it’s not taking a refreshingly cleansing shower in the morning. It is the washing with water wherein God’s Holy Word: HIS NAME, as has been attached to. It’s Jesus which washes on to you, in to you, even as Jesus Himself is doing the washing by the hands of a pastor. It’s also a mark, sigil, identifier, brand or tattoo, if you will, of identity and ownership. When one is adopted one is given the new name of the Mother and Father which are now the new, legal, legitimate parents. When one is Washed by Christ in His Holy Name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one has that new name. You belong to The Christ—that’s why you are a Christian no matter what your surname may be.
That’s where (pointing to font) Christ actually rescued YOU from sin, death, and the power of the devil. That is where your own infant heart, held on to, and believed, in Jesus. Saint Mark writes: “whoever believes and is baptized will be saved!”
Yes, that is a mystery, a “musteriou” or Sacrament. But The Lord that created everything from nothing, that rose from the dead, that is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, has no problem placing His Word—Himself—on/in/with Water to create faith, forgive sins, and to negate and drive away Satan and the world.
Saint Paul says in Titus chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by The Holy Spirit, Whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior…” [Titus 3. 5-8]. Saint Peter writes in his first epistle: “…baptism doth also now save(s) us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” [1 Pe. 3.21].
For life, one needs only food, water, and a safe place…which, would include a family since God made us social, communing (communicative) people. The Church is that community. The true “communing” will be the final chief part. But one needs water, it’s not optional. The earth is primarily made of water and the human body likewise. Water is Life. That water comes from the mouth (Word) of God. That water comes from the riven side of The Crucified God/Man Christ Jesus. That water is in The Holy + Font and still—RIGHT NOW—glistens and radiates and shines on your forehead and breast. It is seen with eyes of all, even non-believers, every time you make the Sign of The Holy + Cross—your Baptism. There is nothing greater than your baptism because in saying that you are simply confessing that there is nothing greater than Jesus and His adopting mercy and forgiveness and life for you!
So, whether you’re just practicing the hygiene your mother taught you as a child, or that the current pandemic has reinforced, YES, wash your hands. Wash your hands thoroughly with a good soap for an adequate time, often. It may well help avoid a lot of common problems and physical diseases. Cleanliness is next to Godliness goes the aphorism.
But know this; Believe, Teach, Confess, and LIVE THIS: You are + Baptized. Buried not like Jonas in the belly of a fish, but buried with Christ into His own death—a watery death where not Pharaoh and his soldiers of death are washed away, but wherein all your trespasses are drowned by the life-giving water from The Rock. And that Rock is Jesus. And you are raised with Him in the newness of His Life.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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