Baptism of the Lord

We can consider today's solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord our version of the nativity of Jesus. As Jesus' birth is celebrated at Christmas, our birth, in faith, is celebrated today. Though today's feast is about the events surrounding Jesus' baptism, his was to be the sacramental sign of new birth for all who desire to receive this same baptism. Today, then, closes the circle of the Christmas season. What began with the birth of Jesus ends with the sign of a “second birth” for all the baptized.

Our baptism is most importantly our initiation into the life and mission of Jesus. This life and mission is made real and concrete in the community of the faithful, the Body of Christ. The sign of that union and mission is signified and celebrated in our fellowship at the table of the Eucharist.

We take great joy in gathering to celebrate the baptisms of our newest members, its celebration especially meaningful in the celebration of the Easter mysteries. Each year at the Easter Vigil, the church welcomes the newly baptized, revealing through ritual the journey from darkness and sin to light and grace, from the pain and sorrow of the cross to the joy and peace of the resurrection. An empty tomb becomes the font of new life for the baptized.

Last Sunday we dedicated our new baptismal font. It's presence at the entrance to our worship space is a daily reminder of our baptism, drawing us to its water for our ritual blessing, crossing ourselves in the name of the Trinity, the sign of our life in God.

From the font we look to the table of our Eucharist and understand the that both are the source of life--the one that gave us new life, the other that sustains that life; the one that cleanses, the other that nourishes; the one that washes away sins, the other that heals all divisions; the one that initiates a life of service; the other that shows the cost.

Our new font is unique in its design. There is no other font like it, that I know of. Local artisans joined their creative talents to make it. Its wood base, solid but graceful, is made of oak, relating it to other wood pieces in the worship space, especially the Eucharistic table. The wood base is constructed by Patrick O'Neill (www.greenlinefw.com). The copper bowl, organic and textured, adds shape and light to our space. It is hand crafted by local artist, Greg Wilbur (www.gregwilbur.com). The design and development of the font is by architect, Richard Brown, who worked with me on the design concept. Richard is also the architect for our chapel improvements and exterior renovations (www.rbarch.com). It was a pleasure for me, personally, to work with these talented artists.

A unique feature of the design of the font, a symbol that points to how we see grace at home in nature, is its oval shape. This shape represents the womb. You can easily imagine the curled-up presence of a child whose time for birth has arrived. The font of baptism is the womb of new life.

A fact of life—we are getting older; a fact of baptism—everyday we are called to new life—to new faith, hope, and love. Everyday we can emerge from the womb of baptism—healed, forgiven, and renewed. And the water of baptism. Life cannot exist without water. As the Body of Christ, we cannot survive without baptism. Even the dented copper reflects light in a way that makes the water move and glimmer, as though life is mysteriously stirring around in it. Everyday, we reach towards that mystery.

Another feature of the font is the curled lip with Greek letters in the shape of a cross. This symbol is borrowed from ancient baptismal fonts having this symbol in a mosaic of tile—PHOS, meaning Light; ZOE, meaning Life. As we celebrate the baptism of the Lord, and remember our own baptism, I hope our font will be a sign for us—that Christ will always be our Light and Life at the Downtown Chapel.