Isaiah 2:1-5 / Ephesians 3:2-12 / Mark 16:15-20
There are a few important days in our lives that are significant and hold special meanings for us.
There are, for example, birthdays and anniversaries. Those days bring back memories, and make us think about the way we were then, and the way we are now.
It is said that there are two important and significant days in our lives. The first is the day when we were born, and the other is when we find out why.
Certainly, we will remember our birthdays, and we will celebrate our birthdays, whether publicly or privately.
That day has a fixed date, month and year, so in that sense it is unchangeable. And that day holds memories for us and we may also have photographs with our loved ones and friends.
The other important and significant day, is the day that we find out why we are here in this world, and that may not have a fixed date, but we would certainly have an experience and an enlightenment.
So, it would be good to think about and recall if we ever had such a day, or a few such days, when we become aware of the meaning of our existence.
Today as the Church celebrates Mission Sunday, we are called to reflect upon the meaning of our lives as Christians.
It all began with our baptism, and it would certainly be good to know the date of our baptism and where we were baptised.
Jesus said in the gospel that he who believes and is baptized will be saved. So, it means to say that since we are baptized, then we are saved. But it may not be as simple as it sounds.
We are called to proclaim the Good News of salvation to the world. And that is where the challenge comes in.
To do that means that we believe in Jesus Christ Our Saviour, and we also know the meaning of our lives as Christians.
For the disciples of Jesus, they knew what they were supposed to do. They will have the gift of tongues, they will pick up snakes in their hands, be unharmed should they drink deadly poison, they will lay their hands on the sick who will recover.
And so, they went out to the whole world, preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that accompanied it.
It was an experience for the disciples, and with each experience, the meaning and conviction of their lives as Christians deepened. That was what Christianity meant for the disciples.
So, what does Christianity and our baptism mean for us?
Generally speaking, we were baptized with water. So, what does the waters of baptism mean to us?
A story goes that a lady went to the priest and said, "I won’t be attending church anymore."
He said, "May I ask why??"
She said, "I see people on their cell phones during the service, some are gossiping, some just not living right, they are all just hypocrites."
The priest thought for a while and he said, "Ok... But can I ask you to do something for me before you make your final decision?"
She said, "What’s that?"
He said, "Take a glass of water and walk around the church two times and don’t let any water fall out the glass."
She said, "Yes I can do that."
She came back and said "It’s done."
He asked her three questions:
1. Did you see anybody on their phone?
2. Did you see anybody gossiping?
3. Was anybody living wrong?
She said, "I didn’t see anything because I was so focused on this glass, so the water wouldn’t fall."
He told her, "When you come to Church, you should be just that focused on God , so that you don’t fall.”
Yes, we come to church to focus on God and to renew our baptismal commitment to God.
Each of us is like holding a glass of water and we are called to share that water with others, because it is the waters of salvation that brings about healing and forgiveness.
Some may use the waters to wash their hands, some may use it to wash their face to look refreshed, some may use the waters to wash their eyes so that they can see what they need to see, and then some will use it to wash their lives in order to experience salvation and healing.
Whatever it may be, we hold that glass of water, the water of salvation, the water of baptism, and we give it to others for them to find out the meaning of their existence, and may they also come to know who is their Saviour.
Let us also renew our baptismal commitment Jesus, and may our lives be refreshed with living water.
Then let us go forth to share that living water, and the Lord Jesus will work with us, and we will see the signs that will deepen the meaning of our lives as Christians.