The opening piece is from “Union with Christ” – The New Finnish Interpretation of Luther.
According to Luther, baptism does not just guarantee the death of sin and the Christian’s resurrection on the first day of eternal life. Its meaning is realized through a firm faith already in this life. Baptism initiates through faith the realization of death and resurrection, joins us with God, and empowers us to struggle against sin.
As we are empowered through our baptism to faithfully consider the reality of death and resurrection, we are lifted up into this day with a new vision for what is at hand. I like the word “already” when we talk about baptism and with that death and resurrection because it implies no waiting…no task to accomplish…no some day to come. Rather, baptism is a power for life now also. In our Baptism we are given the power to trust what God says about us and does for us. That power is able to face death and to expect and begin to live within the glory of the resurrection…already. Already…means not merely on our death bed…but also during every day we awake to whatever the day may bring. Already it is a day of resurrection and death is conquered.
Connection: And then…today can be a day in which we do not see and do not hear any evidence of resurrection or the power of the Good News over death. And yet, we pray that the “already” of God’s love will take us along through all we may encounter.
Take us up Lord and help us to see the wonder of your love and how your promise of new life can and does overcome all other words that may be spoken to us and all events that may try to dismantle the hope we have in you alone. Amen.
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