Pastor's Pen

Dear Friends,

   Baptism by ice.
   I first heard the story on NPR early last week. Then, several days later, a picture appeared in the Herald-Leader. It showed a woman in a flowing white robe making her way toward a hole that had been cut in an ice-covered lake. It seems that many members of the Russian Orthodox Church celebrate the Epiphany and the baptism of Jesus by plunging themselves into icy water that has been blessed by a priest. The practice is supposed to bring good health and good fortune in the year to come. Google the three words “Russia baptism ice,” and you can see for yourself.
   In the Orthodox tradition, the baptism of Jesus is called The Theophany, and is considered the third most important feast day, preceded only by Easter and Pentecost. A theophany is an appearance of God, a manifestation of the Holy, and the Orthodox feast remembers that at Jesus’ baptism, the voice of God was heard proclaiming him as God’s son. It set him on a path that led to a cross.
   As I heard the story on NPR, and then watched some of the videos of the faithful immersing themselves in a hole cut in the ice, I could not help but think of our observance of the Baptism of Jesus several weeks ago. We were invited to come forward and dip our fingers in a bowl of water as a way of remembering or anticipating our baptism. As the one who usually fills the bowls that are used in this service, I must confess that I make sure that the water in neither too hot nor too cold. Goldilocks-like, the water is tepid, room temperature, just right. As I thought about it, I wondered if the Orthodox aren’t onto something.
   Maybe we need to think of our baptism as a shock to the system, something that takes courage and fortitude, because joining Jesus in the water will ask something of us as well as give something to us. Baptism is a costly blessing, the first step on a path that leads to mourning the pain of others, hungering for righteousness, doing the hard work of seeking justice for the poor and making peace for the whole world. Baptism is not for the faint of heart, and neither is Christian faith. Maybe we need to spend some time thinking about whether or not we are ready to take the plunge.
   Glad to be your pastor,

Michael