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April 2, 2000
Probably the most charming of the films nominated for major Oscar awards this year is the screen adaptation of John Irving's novel THE CIDER HOUSE RULES.
It's the story of a group of orphan boys raised in a country home managed by an aging obstetician, Dr. Wilbur Larch, acted in the film by Michael Caine who won Best Supporting Act for his remarkable portrayal.
One of the orphans never finds foster parents so Dr. Larch adopts him as his own and trains him to be his successor as the house doctor. This boy, Homer, grown to a fine, young man decides, after his classical namesake, to go into the world and try to find his way and his leaving breaks the heart of Dr. Larch.
The most endearing line from the story is the nightly "good night" which Dr. Larch gives to his charges, after he has read them a bedtime story, and is about to close the door to their dormitory. He calls out: GOOD NIGHT, YOU PRINCES OF MAINE; YOU KINGS OF NEW ENGLAND.
This "good night" registers in the boys' hearts and later in their adult memories as a ritual blessing whose repetition reassures them that they are not orphans, they are beloved sons.
At his baptism Jesus receives a similar assurance. The Holy Spirit placed a song in his heart whose tune he would remember all his life. That is what baptism does for every person; of course when you are only a few months old like Tristan you don't know the words of the song and its tune is not yet familiar. You will need to learn the baptism song of blessing over the years and that teaching is the role of parents, and godparents, and of the congregation.
Taking our outline from Mark's story of Jesus' baptism we may hear three verses to the baptism song:
l) The beginning of the song is about tearing and it goes like this: HEAVEN IS OPEN TO YOU. In the story of Jesus the good news begins with the tearing of the heavens and ends with the tearing of the temple curtain. The veil between you and God has been torn apart. Heaven is open to you. There is no limit to God's purpose for your life: it is an eternal purpose.
That God's blessing tears open the heavens means that young Tristan in the years ahead is not boxed into anyone's expectations of what he should do or what he must accomplish. Some U.S. citizens are up in arms because the current census presents them with 5l boxes to check off. Tristan won't have to conform his spirit to anyone's check off boxes. The sky isn't the limit for him because heaven is open to him.
Or should the time come when he faces a serious illness, or even death, those who love him and those who support him in the church, may say to him: the heavens are open to you. The angels are waiting for you; have no fear. Heaven knows you by name. Heaven is open to you.
2) The second line of the song at Jesus' baptism is about the dove: God's SPIRIT IS IN YOU. Remember the end of the flood, when the dove brought the twig of new life back to Noah? Well, here is the dove descending on Jesus, bringing the gift of the Holy Spirit. You are now the temple of God's Holy Spirit. You are the place where others will encounter God. God's Spirit is in you.
Should a time come in your life, Tristan, when you feel alone and surrounded by hostility, may you hear a parent or a Christian godparent gently whispering a tune of encouragement: God's Spirit is in you.
Or if a time comes when you are wildly successful, you may hear a more sobering rendition of the song: God's Spirit is in you --- when it seems everyone worships you and your success, don't forget who you worship.
3) So heaven is open to you, God's Spirit is in you. The third line of the song of baptism is about the beloved: YOU MEAN EVERYTHING TO GOD. God's word is this: THIS IS MY BELOVED SON. These words mean that Jesus means everything to God, and everything God gives to Jesus he gives to us through our baptism. Tristan means everything to God.
There may come a time in your life, Tristan, when you feel a deep sense of your own sin. Then you should hear your baptism song: YOU ARE EVERYTHING TO GOD. You will always be God's beloved, no matter what you have done, however unworthy you feel. Or you may wander away from the church because God seems so distantly cosmic and vague, when you long for intimacy and passion. Then may a parent and a Christian friend say to you, even if they sing through tears: YOU ARE EVERYTHING TO GOD.
This baptism reminds all baptised of the song they share with Tristan. The heavens are open to us; God's Spirit is in us; we are everything to God. This is the song from God's heart to ours.
We are, indeed, princes and princesses of Maine; kings and queens of New England and the world for we are children of God.
Pastor Gene Preston
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The Rev. Gene R.Preston14th Floor, Blk 36, Lower Baguio Villa Tel : 25516161 Fax: 25512114E-mail : gpreston@netvigator.com |
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