Sunday, January 15, 2006

Readings :
Jeremiah 17:12-14
1st Letter of John 2:28-3:3
Gospel of John 4:5-26

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"Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

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It is told, that when everything began, the earth was emptiness and nothing. But God brought a spring of water forth, and it watered all of the earth.
And God planted his own garden there, at the spring. The garden we call Paradise. East of Eden. And from this spring and this garden the 4 rivers of life went to all the corners of the world and brought life.
Because life and water belongs together.
And that is why creation cannot flourish and grow without the river that carries the water of life.

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It is also told, that when the patriarch Jacob had finished his two times 7 years of servitude with his wifes' father, his uncle Laban, he longs for home.
The home of his father.
But ... there is a teeeeeny tiny problem.
Back then, he fled his home, in mortal fear for his older brother... quite reasonable fear ... seeing that he had cheated his elder brother out of everything : heritage and blessing. Actually, Jacob is a cheater ... and a heel (the name "Jacob" can mean "heel" ... interesting, eh ?)
But he leaves, packs up his wifes and concubines, children, servants and animals, and leaves.
And as the caravan draws closer to home, he becomes increasingly ... afraid.
So, he splits up the caravan.
Sends animals and servants in several contingents to his brother to soften him.
Takes what is left and split up in two, sends one set with one wife, the other set with the other. And at last he stands alone.
Stands at the brook of Jabboq and has to cross the river.
Everything he fears is on the other side ... but so is everything he loves.
And he stands, poised between fear and longing. Debating ... perhaps even battling within.
And finally, as the sun sets, he sets foot in the water and prepares to cross.
But halfway over, he is stopped.
Someone stops him, prevents him from crossing.
And finally, his object is clear. He will cross !
And so ... they fight.
They fight all night. And during the fight, Jacob realize that this is no ordinary man. This must be an angel !
And when dawn comes, the angel tries to leave ... but Jacob holds him. Hold on to him for dear life.
"I will not let you go until you bless me !"
And the angel strikes Jacob. Hard. So hard, that he will limp for the rest of his life, and still, he does not let go.
And it works. He gets his blessing ! ... and a new name.
And as the sun rises, Jacob comes out of the river, out of the water. A new man. He has fought the hardest adversary of them all : himself and his own, inner deamons and fears. He has fought a messenger of God. And he has won.
A new blessing.
A new name.
A new life.

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It is also told, that a man walked in the desert. A mad man. A wild man. Preaching repentance. Preaching salvation. And baptizing. He takes people and submerge them in water, symbolically drowning what was there of evil and sin. Bringing them up again, cleansed and ready to start a new life.
He worked at the river of Jordan and we know him as John. John who baptize. John the Baptist. And one day, a man comes to him, who wants to be baptized. A man, who wants to be drowned and reborn, ordained to a new life.
And John recognizes the man.
Not because he sees him as cousin Jesus from Nazareth, but because he sees the son of God, his Saviour. And John sinks down, whispering : You should baptize me. I cannot ordain you.
But Jesus just smiles and says : Let that happen which should happen.
And they go into the river, together. And John takes Jesus down, under the waters, and when He comes up, a light bursts out from Heaven, the Spirit of God comes down, in the shape of a dove, and a voice is heard saying : This is my beloved son.
In the imperfect baptism of John, Jesus is acknowledged as the son of God, and He takes on the burden of being that. Of being our life in both life and death.

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And then we arrive at our own baptism.
I know that this is one of the bones of contention between the many versions of Christianity that abounds, and for that reason, I will not go into details or imply that one is "the right one" and that the others, therefore, are wrong.

Just a few notes, that I hope will be ... in-offensive to most that call themselves Christian :
The "ordinary water", which in my corner of Christianity is whatever comes out of the tap that day, is transformed into the water of life when we use it to baptize. Not through magic, but through faith.
The watermark that is put on the person baptized, be it a baby or a grown-up, is for life. It can never be taken off !
When we are baptized, we are marked, for eternity, by the spring of life.
When we are baptized, the little seeds of our faith are watered, and can grow into big trees ... given time :-)
When we are baptized, we are given access to that well of water which gives life.
Here and forever more.
God bless you