Through Stained Glass: Advent Word a Day -- Remember

 

Remember 

 Every week, we remember our baptism and give thanks. 

 A practice that reminds us of who and whose we are – that in this life and the one to come, we belong, entirely and wholly, to Love. 

 When we celebrate the eucharist, I utter those words that take us back into that upper room with Jesus and the disciples: …do this in remembrance of me. 

 In Greek, the word is
. 

 And it means more than what it means for us today. In the context of Scripture, anamnesis has an active force that what ‘remembrance’ conveys. 

 Instead of remember and more like re-member. 

 Or less like represent and more like re-present. 

 See the difference? The hyphenated one has an energy to it, right? Both re-member and re-present indicate something happening in the present. 

 When we re-member our baptism, it isn’t about us sorting through memories. Instead, it is about us emerging from the waters of creation with the Triune God of Love. 

 When we re-member while breaking bread and sharing cup, Christ's living mystical body is being made present to us. 

 I believe, in the mystical ways of our faith, both re-memberings draw us into the fullness of beloved community: the Trinity. 

 Baptism is about God. Words often used are incorporation and inclusion. I do not find issue with these words. But I first think of another ‘I’ word: incarnation. As the Spirit hovered over and within the waters of creation, the Spirit enters us in our baptisms. 

Baptism is our original blessing ! And it is the original blessing of others, too. We re-member, not for ourselves, but for each other – embodying and embracing the covenant promises we share and make. Remembering [and re-membering, for that matter] our baptism and being thankful is less about chronological time and more about, you guessed it, kairos time! 

 My photo for today hangs on the wall in my study. It is above my degrees and ordination as a Minister of Word and Sacrament into the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. A few years back, my parents found a photo from my baptism. Standing between the minister and my dad is my grandpa, holding me. He has the biggest grin on his face. Do I remember that moment? Of course not. Don’t be silly. But I do remember growing into God’s ‘Yes’ because of those folks at Bethel, especially by my grandpa Quine. 

 Before I’m a minister … a student … etc … 

 I am a beloved child of God, cherished and cared for, good and holy. 

 And so are you!