Baptism Homily

Homily for the Baptism of Philippa Virginia

October 20, 2018 

Introduction 

Why are we here today?  Why are we baptizing Philippa Virginia today? 

• I know that Paul, Ada and Jack are looking forward to the great party afterwards at home; but that is NOT the reason for today’s ceremony. 

• I know that Dylan’s parents travelled all the way from down under in Australia to be here; but still that is not really why we are here. 

I would like to offer two reasons for today's short ceremony.  

Scripture and Theology 

The first reason we are baptizing Philippa is take away from her this sad reality called original sin.  Original sin is different from the actual sin that we commit.  Apart from waking her dad and mom several times during the night, something over which she has no control, Philippa does not yet sin. 

But anybody who has been around human beings can tell that we are a broken lot.    We cheat, we steal, we lie, sometimes even we do horrific things to each other.  In popular thinking, the cause of these things is sometimes reduced to bad moral choices or bad moral upbringing.  But for us Christians, we realize that while morality is indeed involved in these situations, the more profound cause of our sin is a certain fundamental brokenness, coming all the way from Adam, which we call original sin. 

Fortunately for us, God in his goodness has thought about our situation and given us a way out.  Because the problem is so fundamental after trying small measures like the prophets, God sent in the big gun, Jesus Christ.  And while teaching us the way to live was one of the ways by which he addressed the problem, the more critical approach was by dying on the cross and rising again, and thereby changing humanity fundamentally. 

We today continue to tap into the benefits of his work of salvation by means of sacraments.  And baptism is the primary sacrament by which we do this.  If you recall from your catechism classes, a sacrament is an efficacious sign of invisible grace.  Well, with the water and words today, we shall perform efficacious signs that will bring the grace of forgiveness of original sin to Philippa.  Like the water that Ezekiel spoke about in our reading that brought life everywhere it went, this water brings new life to Philippa.  After baptism we shall cover her with a white garment to symbolize her new state of purity before God. 

But we shall also light a candle, which her godparents will hold on her behalf.  And that brings us to the second reason for celebrating her baptism today.  While original sin is removed, the temptation to sin or what is called concupiscence remains in each of us after baptism.  That is why Philippa and each of us have to continue the battle against sin.  And that is where we all come in, to help her follow the way of light until eternity. 

You have probably heard the African saying that “it takes a village to raise a child.”  From my experience growing up in Uganda, that is very true.  In Uganda all your mother’s sisters are your mothers and all your father’s brothers are your fathers; we use the word “aunt” to refer only to your father’s sisters and the word “uncle” to refer only to your mother’s brothers.  Also, we rarely use the word “cousin” since most of your cousins are simply your brothers and sisters.  And so, if you thought that having one mother after you was a hassle, think of what it is like to have five mothers, one at every turn. 

And so, just as the whole family tries to raise the children by teaching them good social values, by correcting them when they make mistakes, by showing them the way to behave, so do we as Christians share with Philippa the gift of being a Christian from a very early age, after she has been baptized and original sin taken away from her.  We make all kinds of decisions for our children before they are adults: what vaccinations to receive, what schools to attend, what names to have, what food to eat, what clothes to wear, what sports to play.  Why should we not make the most important decision, which is enrolling them into the Body of Christ and eliminating the stain of original sin by baptism?  St. Thomas Aquinas said that a baptised child is like an embryo growing up in its mother’s womb, getting nourishment for nine months from its mother until it is born.  This time the womb of the baptized child is the Church.  Baptising Philippa is one way for us to put into practice what Jesus told the disciples: “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these." 

At the beginning of the rite, I asked you Dylan and Michele: “What do you ask of God’s Church for Philippa Virginia?”  And you said: “Faith.”  I then asked you if you understood “the responsibility of training her in the practice of the faith . . . .  [the] duty to bring her up to keep God’s commandments as Christ taught us, by loving God and our neighbour” and you said “We do.”  I then turned to the godparents and asked: “Are you ready to help the parents of this child in their duty as Christian parents?”  And you also said: “We are.” 

I hope none of these answers were pro-forma, but you really meant them.  The rite allows me to ask you this question one more time, just in case you want to bail out.  For it is an important duty that you are undertaking today. 

And for the rest of us, if you came only for the reception, don’t think you are off the hook; there is no such thing as a free meal.  In a few moments, after I ask the parents and godparents to renew their baptismal promises, I will end by declaring that we are baptising Philippa in the faith of the Church, the faith of all of us.  I will say: “This is our faith.  This is the faith of the Church.  We are proud to profess it, in Christ Jesus our Lord” to which you will all respond: “Amen,” essentially agreeing with me and signing up to help Philippa grow in that faith.  Yes, even you Paul, Ada and Jack, you must help your sister grow in the faith.  And even the grandparents, you have a role to play. 

Conclusion 

May our presence here today be a promise to ensure that the little light we are lighting today continues to burn and shine brightly in the life of Philippa. And as we reflect on our own baptismal commitment, let us reflect on our own co-responsibility for all those who consider us their parents in the faith. 

Yes, it takes a village to raise a child; it takes a Christian village, with God's help, to raise a Christian child. 

ENTRANCE SONG:Be Thou My Vision (Music Issue 392)

POST-BAPTISM:Holy God we Praise thy name (Gather 524) 

RECESSION:The Church's One Foundation (Gather 661)