Sermon: "The Sacrament of Acceptance"
The Right Reverend Charles G. vonRosenberg
Third Bishop of East Tennessee

[This sermon by Bishop vonRosenberg was delivered using the following notes.]

In recent years, we have seen many liturgical changes in the Episcopal Church. Among those changes, perhaps the one best received involves a more prominent place for the sacrament of Baptism. That is, we have come to realize the appropriately central position of Baptism to our Faith.

One of the ways that the Church has emphasized Baptism is by identifying particularly appropriate feast days on which to celebrate Baptisms. First, Easter Eve was the historic occasion for Baptism in the early Church, following the time of preparation during Lent. Secondly, Pentecost marks the time of receiving God's Holy Spirit, and that action is a primary theme for Christian Baptisms as well. Thirdly, on All Saints' Sunday, we remember our union with saints - living and dead - by virtue of our common Baptism. And finally, today, the Sunday after Epiphany - or the Baptism of Our Lord - celebrates our union with Christ through the shared sacrament of Baptism. Thus, these special Sundays mark great moments in the yearly life of the Church, and they are also especially appropriate for our celebrations of Baptism.

Therefore, we focus our attention on Baptism today, as well as on Confirmation which is closely associated with Baptism. In fact, in just a few moments, we all will have the opportunity to renew our Baptismal Covenant with Jesus … and we will do so on this day that we also celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. Let me offer one more word about Confirmation at this point. The place and significance of that Episcopal act are much debated these days. However, it is clear that whatever meaning Confirmation has derives primarily from its close association with Baptism.

In the Gospel reading today, we heard of the Baptism of Jesus. After that Baptism, a voice from heaven identified Jesus as God's Son. And then came these words: "With you I am well pleased."

How seldom do we hear those words spoken - and how seldom do we speak them ourselves! As parents, as people in various positions of authority, or as commentators on the current scene, we do not usually speak words of praise and encouragement. Such words are out of style or simply not considered. Rather, we usually say and hear words of discouragement and of displeasure. Our ears and tongues are surely more accustomed to criticism than to praise.

Charlie Brown symbolizes Everyman and Everywoman in our society, in many ways. And his most typical response to the world's frustrations often represents us all: "Good grief." He is the object of criticism. He is the personification of misfortune. Charlie Brown loses at baseball; his foot has yet to encounter a football in his many attempts at placekicking; and in love, he cannot get to first base with the little red-haired girl. Charlie Brown is a loser, the brunt of everyone's jokes. He represents each of us at our worst in relationship with the world - those times we think least of ourselves.

Here's another example of encountering discouragement and disillusionment. I heard recently of a cowboy who rode out on the range of the West. One day he saw two buffalo. He went up to them and said, "You are the ugliest, dirtiest, smelliest animals I have ever seen." And then he rode off into the sunset. One buffalo turned to the other one and said, "I thought that out here we seldom heard a discouraging word."

The fact is that, in common with those buffalo, we do hear discouraging words, along with words of displeasure and criticism. At times we may feel so overwhelmed that we can identify with Charlie Brown or with the buffalo. Further, not only do we hear such words directed at us, but we also are guilty of saying them ourselves.

In that regard, I cringe when I think of my days as a schoolteacher. The papers I graded were usually filled with red ink. And the messages conveyed usually were not particularly uplifting and encouraging. "This is misspelled." "That modifer is in the wrong place." "This expression could be improved." I am afraid that my students often heard - and read - discouraging words from me.

I read recently, though, of another teacher whose students had a very different experience. At the end of the school year, a high school principal commended this teacher on the amazing progress a certain class had made during that year. The teacher replied that the students' work was not really surprising since their IQ scores were so high. But a mistake had been made at the beginning of the year that was only discovered at the end. The numbers that the teacher had seen earlier were not IQ scores but locker assignments. Actually, the class had been identified as a below average group. However, the teacher thought of them as exceptionally intelligent, and she treated them that way. And the students responded well to her encouragement and praise.

In the Gospel reading, we hear God's words of encouragement and praise to Jesus on the occasion of his Baptism. "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."

And I want all of you to hear those words this morning, directed at you. That is God's message to each of us at our Baptisms. We are adopted as God's sons and daughters in the sacrament of Baptism. And Baptism is the sacrament of God's acceptance.

"You are my beloved child; with you I am well pleased." The words may differ a bit in our worship service. But that's the meaning. Through the sacrament of Baptism, God indicates His pleasure, His encouragement, and His acceptance - and that acceptance is confirmed at Confirmation. All of us recall that relationship today, as we renew our Baptismal Covenant. And God repeats this message to each one of us: "With you I am well pleased."

No matter what happens afterwards, we have been marked with the sign of the cross … the sign of God's adoption in Christ, the indication of God's acceptance. No matter how miserable we become; no matter to what depths we sink; no matter how we and others grow to hate ourselves, God has accepted us. And nothing can ever take that acceptance away.

In conclusion, our Christian lives begin with God's acceptance. That acceptance is given freely by God, not earned by us. Acceptance from God is simply and completely a gift. By means of this gift from God - this grace of God - we begin our lives in Christ, lives that never end.

It all begins with acceptance … acceptance by God of us as His adopted sons and daughters. In the Church, this moment and occasion we celebrate at Baptism. And Baptism is that time that an undeserving child of God is smiled on by God and told, "With you I am well pleased!"

Copyright © 2009 The Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee