Sermon – 06-18-23 – Proper 6 – Cycle A
Scriptures: Exodus 19:2-8; Romans 5:1-8; Matthew 9:35 through 10:8
Sermon Title: “Baptism: Not Just Saving Ourselves”

In our baptism . . . wait, I did not hear anything about baptism in our scripture passages today. Why am I starting with baptism. Well, in our baptism we are anointed. We usually think that we are blessing the child, we are wrapping the child in God’s protection, we are bestowing salvation upon the child. We think of this action of word and water as the beginning of a relationship between the child or adult and God – all three persons. We say in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

However, in our baptism we are anointed to serve. Listen to these words from the United Church of Christ’s Book of Worship:
Baptism is the sacrament through which we are united to Jesus Christ and given part in Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. Baptism is the visible sign of an invisible event: the reconciliation of people to God. It shows the death of self and the rising to a life of obedience and praise, It shows also the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on those whom God has chosen. In baptism, God works in us the power of forgiveness, the renewal of the Spirit, and the knowledge of the call to be God’s people always.

What does it mean to be God’s people? One of the promises that parents make on behalf of the child, and as models for the child, is “to be Christ’s disciples, to follow in the way of our Savior, to resist oppressions and evil, to show love and justice, and to witness to the work and word of Jesus Christ as best you are able.” Another phrase in the baptismal service is the promise “to further Christ’s mission in all the world,” . . . Yet another phrase is “Jesus Christ calls us to make disciples of all nations and to offer them the gift of grace in baptism.”

If the person being baptized is able to make his or her own promises, the words are the same but it is not parents promising to raise the child to these goals; it is the person, himself or herself, who is taking these vows.

As Jesus was about to be ascended into heaven after his resurrection, he gave this charge to his disciples and therefore to us, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

Fast backward to our scriptures today, we find Jesus commanding his twelve disciples to go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. This assignment is limited to the Jews who were like lost sheep. They had not yet become followers of Jesus. Jesus is not presenting a rosy picture about this assignment. He is saying that some of the Jewish households will welcome them. Some will do the opposite. It is not a fun vacation. And this is not a once and done adventure. Later, Jesus gathers 70 of his followers to go out in pairs. If the households welcome these followers of Jesus, these disciples, these missionaries should offer a blessing to this home and the people in it.

If the people are not hospitable, the missionaries shall shake the dust off their sandals and move along to another household, checking the welcome there. Jesus actually says, “I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.” However, Jesus gives this promise: “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time.”

Is this the kind of experience you anticipated when you confirmed your baptism or when you were baptized? Or when you walked into church today? No? Me either! I am not much for self-inflicted suffering. I feel called to do what I do now – supposedly being a shepherd to a flock. The fact is that every day I am made aware of all of the shepherds in the flock. Each of you are walking with God in a unique way. So we need to learn from each other. Sometimes we are a shepherd; sometimes we are a sheep. What about the wolves? Oh my! They are out there. Sometimes they find their way into the sheepfold.

Wherever we find the wolves, we need to depend on the Holy Spirit to put words and actions into our minds and hearts. Jesus did not say to stay in unwelcoming places. We can shake the dust from our sandals after attempting to share the word of God with the wolves. We don’t need to stay and fight or linger and suffer.

If you have witnessed to a lost sheep, may you be richly blessed. If you have witnessed to a lost sheep and have had good results, may you be doubly, richly blessed. Some people have a knack for bringing sheep inside the door. Some of us are natured to welcome the sheep when they enter. Some of us have neither of these skills.

We should all give it a try. Where might we give this a try? Passing a person on the street. A smile will set the stage. “Nice day” we might say. If we get a “Nice day” back, that is a start. “How are you using your nice day” we might say next. Then we might add, “I am on the way to the hardware store around the corner. I am building a fence around my yard and I need a certain hinge.” The other fellow might say, “I built our fence a bunch of years ago. Nice job if I say so myself.” I return, “How long has your fence lasted?” “10 years and counting,” is the reply.

“Wow, that must be good wood and good hardware and good paint or did you repaint it sometime along the way?” “Not wood!” the person replies. “And different hardware. It was a learning experience, but it has stayed sturdy all these years and no repainting.”

“Wow! I wish I had met you before I built my wooden fence. Well, I must get moving. I am going to meal at church and then we will hear a speaker speak about things that last. Funny that you and I were just talking about how long fences last. Hey are you busy this evening? New people are always welcome. Do you already have a church family?”

“We did but then COVID came along and we got so comfortable inside our own fence, we lost the desire to venture into people gatherings.” “Do you want to ask whomever the “we” is in your life if you want to do the breaking out of your fence tonight and meet me at the church two blocks from here? I will bring enough extra food for the buffet table so you can just come and see if someTHING speaks to you. We are a friendly bunch so I can guarantee that someONE will speak to you and make you feel welcome.” “Okay, I think we can meet you there!”

I will say this is a “Happy ever-after story”. You are probably saying, “This is a never-happen-to-me-that-way-story. It is not my gift.” Then I will say, “Great, let’s find your gift, your skill. But the next time you pass someone on the street who is looking your way, try a smile and see what God does with your smile.”