Holy Trinity
Baptism of Brice Wise
May 30, 2010
Mark 10:13-16

In the name of the most holy triune God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.

I suppose it is a good thing that I spend a great deal of time in the church as I take some interest in symbols. Symbols are important things in the life of the church, in the life of the church’s people, and really in the life of the whole world. We pay attention to symbols for the message they convey. A road sign is a symbol. We would have a terribly difficult time getting from point A to point B without those symbols.

Our lovely sanctuary is filled with great symbolism. We celebrated Pentecost last Sunday and the symbols of Pentecost expressed the message that God the Holy Spirit was poured out on all God’s people. And wherever the Holy Spirit is, there is Jesus. Our windows are not worshiped yet they always point to the One who is to be worshiped. The crosses we see, the baptismal font that is in front of our eyes, the banners, they broadcast a message of God’s love and grace for us. The markers on the pulpit and lectern, the vestments that clergy wear, they broadcast a message as well.

Symbolism is quite powerful and quite instructive. The Gospel lesson that we heard during the baptismal service included a symbol that deserves some attention on this Trinity Sunday that features the blest washing of Brice Bradley Wise.

He put his hands on them. That is the ‘symbolic’ phrase for something that is quite physical. We do not allow people to put their hands on other people. No one can touch me unless I let them. We get upset when we see other people touched in bad ways. Playground bullies are a scourge for many children and their parents. Tragically, many mothers and fathers discipline by means of a closed fist. And when abusive parents are exposed, there is no sympathy. Many of us have formulated in our minds what sort of justice Earl Bradley should receive, and not just for him, but for all the supervisors and overseers in this heart-breaking situation. ‘He put his hands on them’ is a phrase that evokes terrible pictures in our minds.

But the ‘he’ in our Gospel lesson is Jesus. He put his hands on the children for the purpose of blessing them. These were the hands of the miracle-worker. These were the hands of the teacher. These were the hands of the one who opened the ears of the deaf and gave sight to the blind. These were the hands of a carpenter’s son who was most-likely skilled with a saw, an adze, a lathe, a plane. These were the hands of the One who broke the bread and declared it to be his body, who took the cup of wine and said that this was his blood of the new covenant, the covenant that depends solely upon the grace of the triune God.

As we have come to know the stories of the Bible, the stories of our savior Jesus, you likely know that these same hands, stretched forth to bless, would be the hands stretched out to receive the nails. The blessed Son of God, who spent his life speaking the blessing of God, received curses when he was nailed to the cross. This Jesus stretched out his hands when he saw his disciples after he was raised from the dead and told Thomas, “Touch me. Feel the scars in these hands.”

In baptism, hands are present. Hands hold the baby and hands pour the water on the head. But it is not so much my hands that are present. In a very real way, the hands of God the Father are used. It is God who does the baptizing. It is God who does the washing. It is God who takes the baby and declares that this baby, graciously given to mom and dad, is my precious son or daughter. God declares that this child has been marked and sealed as one that Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, redeemed through his crucifixion.

Christian artwork has long used hands to depict the Father, the cross to depict the Son, and a dove to represent the Holy Spirit. And yes, our heavenly Father lovingly touches us. He washes us, cleanses us from all sin, builds us with great care to be the Church of God on earth.

God the Holy Spirit could be viewed with the image of hands as well. For in Brice’s baptism, just as in every other baptism, the Holy Spirit is given to this precious child for the purpose of blessing. We are blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit to be led by the hand to this time and this place. The Holy Spirit calls us, gathers us, enlightens us and makes us to be the holy ones of God. And very often the Holy Spirit takes us by the hand, kicking and screaming to this place. The Holy Spirit takes us by the hand and we look God in the eye and confess that we are sinners in need of forgiveness. The Holy Spirit takes us by the hand to the communion rail so that we can take in our hands and our mouth the very forgiveness of God that is present in the bread and wine of Holy Communion. The Holy Spirit takes us by the hand from this place back to our homes, to our jobs, to our schools, to our families so that we might extend our hands and be a blessing to the people around us. Served by the hand of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit we are the hands of God when we change our babies’ diaper. Your family is the closest neighbor you have, so when you serve your family, you are indeed serving your neighbor. Love them, serve them, put your hands on them and be a blessing to them.

Truly, truly I say to you, whoever does not receive kingdom of God as a little child will be no means enter it. And he took them up in his arms, put his hands on them, and blessed them.

Receiving God’s kingdom as a little child is to trust God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Trust that God loves you, that God is merciful, that when God lays hold of you with his powerful and gentle hands, he is giving you his blessing, life today, life forevermore. He put his hands on them. Thanks be to God! SDG