e-vo for week of June 18

Dearest e-votees-

The texts for this week have a palpable intensity. They are good ones in which to steep ourselves. But remember Isaiah 55:10-11, God’s words don’t return empty. If we spend too much time with these powerful texts we will undoubtedly be changed.

If you still want to read them all they are:

• Jeremiah 20:7-13
• Psalm 69:7-10 [11-15] 16-18
• Romans 6:1b-11
• Matthew 10:24-39

We’ll use the text from Romans to shape our reflection this week.

Peace,
Karl

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Should we continue in sin in order that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin go on living in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For whoever has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died, he died to sin, once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

Romans 6:1b-11, NRSV

I have the privilege of being part of a baptism this coming Sunday. There are few greater joys in the work of a pastor than participating in the sacraments, engaging significant junctions in people’s lives with words of grace (and admonition) and witnessing God’s saving work in the lives of others. A baptism is all three of these joys.

Baptism is sacramental. A common element—water. God’s command—the Great Commission. A means of grace—remission of sins and adoption into God’s family. When baptisms occur there is a holy exchange. God, Jesus, takes on our lot. We, by God’s grace, take on Jesus’ rightful place. Luther called this the “happy exchange”. Through water, word and faith we are drawn into the community of the Trinity.

Baptism is an incredibly significant junction in our lives. As Paul says in the Romans text we are buried in baptism into Christ’s death. We are also attached to the resurrection. Despite the pretty baptismal gown, the smiling faces in the pictures and the brunch afterwards baptism is much more akin to death. The gown is like a pall on the coffin of our old Adams and old Eves. Tears of repentance and contrition knowing what Jesus underwent that we might freely be saved are appropriate. A meal commemorating the death and what it achieved are more appropriate—but we rush ahead. Communion is for another installment. In terms of life passages baptism is as profound as it gets. That is why Luther counsels us to return to our baptisms daily.

Baptism is God’s saving work on our lives. We cannot save ourselves. Even if we could we would most likely choose otherwise. Works of the flesh cannot liberate the spirit. We are snared by sin. But Paul counsels us to rest in our baptisms and consider ourselves dead to sin. God brings life from death. God brings hope to despair. God brings gospel promise to our souls just as surely as our vain attempts to fulfill the law bring death and grief.


God, be with all who are baptized. Be with all who will be baptized. Help us to lose any illusions that we have chances of salvation outside of your gracious provision. Continue to make us alive in Jesus Christ. Amen.