This evening Fr Tom shared an amusing anecdote - could very well be a satirical one - about three pastors, all of whom were perturbed by their churches being infested with cats. The first one a Lutheran, stated that he tried catching them in a sack and throwing them in a river nearby. But soon they somehow all returned. The second one, a Pentecostal, said that he caught them and left them in a far off place, but by the time he returned to his Church they were all there. The third, a Catholic Priest, was perhaps the only exception. He stated he did not have any cats in his church anymore. The other two were curious as to how did he manage to get them off his back. The Priest merely declared: I baptised them all.
As we commemorate the feast of the baptism of the Lord, and thereby recall our own baptism, it is interesting to ask ourselves as to how we view this sacrament. I certainly have absolutely no memory of my own baptism. But how does one view this sacrament? Often we consider and treat baptism as a sort of gate key of a mansion with single entry point. And somehow are convinced that unless and until every one enters the mansion, they are all doomed to die. I would rather view baptism as an open ticket to participate in a grand fair being held in an open ground. Everyone is welcome to walk into the open ground. There are absolutely no restrictions on looking around, walking about, talking, chatting... then one may ask why the ticket? Well that's for the thrill of participating in the games being conducted.
My analogy may be a bit weird or wonky. However, my vision of the Church is much wider than a closed up and well guarded mansion. Certainly I prefer the 'Kingdom of God' to the 'Church'! For some it may mean the same, not for everyone!
As we commemorate the feast of the baptism of the Lord, and thereby recall our own baptism, it is interesting to ask ourselves as to how we view this sacrament. I certainly have absolutely no memory of my own baptism. But how does one view this sacrament? Often we consider and treat baptism as a sort of gate key of a mansion with single entry point. And somehow are convinced that unless and until every one enters the mansion, they are all doomed to die. I would rather view baptism as an open ticket to participate in a grand fair being held in an open ground. Everyone is welcome to walk into the open ground. There are absolutely no restrictions on looking around, walking about, talking, chatting... then one may ask why the ticket? Well that's for the thrill of participating in the games being conducted.
My analogy may be a bit weird or wonky. However, my vision of the Church is much wider than a closed up and well guarded mansion. Certainly I prefer the 'Kingdom of God' to the 'Church'! For some it may mean the same, not for everyone!
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