Two Baptizers, Two Baptisms

Two Baptizers, Two Baptisms

Rev. Dr. Wilfredo J. Báez

Advent 2 – December 7, 2014

The scripture today offers us two baptizers, the first John, the second Jesus.  People wondered about John.  Was he the Messiah?  Was he the promised one of God?  He responded to those who asked “No.”  Rather, he was a Messenger who role was to announce the arrival of the Messiah and prepare the way for the Messiah.  The Messiah was sure to come.  John’s presence was a sign that this was so.  The Messiah was someone more powerful than his Messenger.  It also offers two baptisms, the first, the baptism of John, is of water, of repentance for forgiveness of sins.  The second, the baptism of Jesus, is with the Holy Spirit and Fire.

Does anyone remember your baptism?  Do you remember your baptism by water and your baptism by the Holy Spirit and Fire? I was baptized as an infant in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Roman Catholic Church on Staten Island, New York City.  I, of course, don’t remember that baptism but it is meaningful to me.  I have renewed and reflected upon my baptism vows numerous times and their meaning to me. When I was baptized I was initiated into the church. I became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ. Water was poured upon my head symbolizing the washing away of sin.  I could have been immersed in water, symbolizing dying with Christ and emerged from the water, symbolizing rising with Christ.  The pouring of the water on the head represents that immersion in the water.

I once was puzzled by the idea that an infant could sin.  Of course, an infant cannot sin.  An infant is innocent and precious in the eyes of God.  The idea that an infant, child or person who dies before being baptized, going to hell is ludicrous.  The idea that an infant is born sinful is equally ridiculous.  The idea that anyone can sin before knowing right and wrong is outrageous.

My brother-in-law and his wife decided to not have children.  They did not want to bring such blessed creatures as children into such an evil world.  This is what the notion of original sin is about.  The idea is that the world children are born into is sinful.  The sinful world affects the child from the time she is in her mother’s womb.  The idea of Original Sin originated not with Adam but with the theologian Augustine in the 4^th Century.  The idea is that the human being needs to be freed from the taint and the limitation of sin.

Marcia and I decided to have children.  We wanted to bring children into the world.  We didn’t see the world as depraved.  We saw humankind made in the image of God, its creation, and every human birth as worthy of celebration.  Rather than the world being inherently evil, we saw it as containing good and evil, that good could be nurtured and bad could be overcome.  The loving world affects the child from the moment she is in her mother’s womb.  Human beings and earthly creations were Originally Good as God said it was.  The idea is that love conquers all.  There’s evil in the world but human beings can collaborate to overcome it.

For those who believe in original sin, the water symbolizes cleansing away the taint of sin.  This sin is not personal sin but societal sin.  The person is born into a world marked by the sins of sexism, racism, classism, violence . . . The baptismal waters free the person from these sins.  But, for one who prescribes to Original Blessing, baptism by water symbolizes human emergence out of God into human community.  It symbolizes new life.   The infant breaks out of her mother’s womb into family and humanity.  She is a blessing to everyone who encounters her.    The response to her appearance is sheer joy. 

Baptism by water is foundational.  Baptism by the Holy Spirit and Fire takes us further.  The Holy Spirit and Fire symbolizes the power aspect of God (Shekinah of Judaism; Shakti of Hinduism).  Jesus activates the Life Force with-in us.  There is a certain charisma or light in the person who has so awakened and sets herself on the path of self-actualization and self-mastery or holiness.  This is the experience of being born again, born from above or born of the spirit, ego declining as self emerges in selfless acts of mercy, justice and service.

I have experienced the spirit of God active in me as I sit in prayer and meditation, as I worship and preach, as I sing, as I counsel, coach and teach and as I sit with members of this congregation in homes and in ministry.  And I have seen her active in you as you shed tears of compassion, offer prayers in desperation, drive your loved ones to treatment, visit in nursing homes, homes and hospitals, serve food to the hungry and challenge unjust systems on behalf of the disenfranchised and powerless.

The first disciples experienced this Holy Spirit Baptism at the Pentecost.  It aroused in them capabilities they did not realize they had; to preach, to teach, to heal, to feed and so many other things.  It is an experience that they wanted and waited upon and an experience you can have as you seek it.   It is an experience you cannot force but have to want and wait for, preparing for it as you wait.  Let us pray.  Come upon us now, Holy Spirit.  Ignite within us the divine flame and transforming power, the sleeping giant of faith that leads to knowledge, sure understanding and actualization.