"O Lord, our God, in your holy sacraments you have given us a foretaste of the good things of your kingdom: Direct us, we pray, in the way that leads to eternal life, that we may come to appear before you in that place of light where you dwell with your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
Psalm 30:1-6, 11-13, Isaiah 65:17-25, and John 4:43-54
In our confirmation class yesterday we spent a some time talking about the sacrament of Eucharist, and we had some conversation about Baptism along with it. As I read today's collect, I'm struck in thinking about the ways that those two sacraments give us a "foretaste of the good things" of God's kingdom.
In baptism we celebrate the new birth of a person coming into our community; with open arms we welcome an outsider who has come into our midst. At St. Barnabas (where I served before St. Paul's), all children who were baptized were given a baptismal banner with an image of water and their name on it. At St. Paul's we give a towel monogrammed with the newly-baptized initials. In both instances it's a gift lovingly crafted and freely given to a new member of the Church, whether this person is a member of a founding family or someone who has moved into the community. All are made welcome at their baptism.
In the eucharist we share a meal together, all of us coming forward as equals in the eyes of God. It's a lot like a family meal over the holidays, only no one is left sitting at the card table on the back porch. Sure, we don't all make it up to the rail at one time, but no one walks away without being fed. One hopes that this remembrance of the meal Jesus shared with his disciples foreshadows a heavenly banquet that is available to all in due time.
These sacraments reveal God's grace to us, and they are but a simple way to experience God's grace here. They give us a glimpse, though, of the grace that awaits us all.
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