Welcome to Henry – now embarking on his new life in Christ. It’s a life of pilgrimage.
Along the way he’s going to see hugely impressive things – like the Disciples of Jesus pointing to the amazing, even today its still jaw droppingly amazing – but then it was fantastic – and Jesus – Yeah that’s not amazing. Don’t get distracted from the main thing. Because even buildings come and go. But Jesus doesn’t. Jesus is forever.
And alas Henry will also grow up in a world that will work at telling him what the meaning of life is and how to get the best fun out of life – and Jesus warns us – Don’t be deceived by people or philosophies saying – I am the way, follow me! – but instead follow Jesus.
And its your job as Parents and Chantal and Dean your job as Godparents, (Actually there’s lots of us here who are Godparents). And it’s our job as the Church to help you with this – listen out for an Alpha course in the new year you might find yourself there, you might find it helpful.
And alas Henry will grow up in a world where there will be more earthquakes, famines, wars, and rumours of wars. Jesus told us these things would happen. Don’t be afraid, but keep your eyes on Jesus.
So that even if someday Henry finds himself in the middle of one of these catastrophes, he can know that peace that comes from having a solid connection with the living God who loves him, who loves us.
So the book of Hebrews encourages us by saying Jesus is amazing, and the Holy Spirit is amazing, so Do Not Give Up on God, Don’t give up on each other, but think about how you can encourage each other – in the faith towards love and good deeds.
I hope that as Henry grows up, when he gets the hang of walking, he wont have any difficulties in simply walking into your bedroom in the middle of the night because he’s woken up a bit worried and he would like a hug.
And I hope – annoying as it might be to you – that he wont have any qualms about following you into the toilet even though you could really do with just a small moment to yourself.
All of that is a good sign of the confidence that Henry has that you love him, that you’re the best person to turn to when afraid, even when he’s done something wrong, I hope he still knows that you’re the best person to look to for help.
God wants that for us. God wants us to have that level of Confidence in our relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
God wants us to pray whenever wherever whatever we’re feeling or going through, to know that we can just knock on the door, come right in, for us to draw close to God because we know that in Jesus we have a saviour.
And in the Holy Spirit we have a constant help and comforter.
The book of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus did what no other High Priest or Priest could do which was to offer himself as a sacrifice that would actually pay for all sins for all time once and for all. Once and for all.
So, all the mistakes that Henry will make over the years. All the mistakes that we as parents, godparents, have made, still make, all of that can be held and healed by the blood of Jesus, healed by the love of Jesus.
What will help is if from the earliest of ages we can learn that God’s love for us is the deepest truth.
Keep reading bible stories to Henry at bed time, one a night will be fine. We know that having a caring adult read to you as you grow up is good for your own reading skills, good for your emotions, but this will also be good in giving Henry a foundation of stories about how God has shown His persistent love through different problems and people in the bible. And that will help his faith, and your faith.
I once knew a lady called Gillie. She grew up in a Christian household, but she refused to become a Christian. Its all nonsense. Anyway one day she did. She came home and told her parents, she was in her early 20s I think, “I’ve become a Christian” and then she went to bed. She had a really good sleep so much that Dad had to go in and wake her up else she’d miss leaving in time for work. She was not happy at being woken up and said some rude words to Dad. Dad laughed at her and said ‘Oh so you’ve become a Christian have you?!’ To which she replied, I’m a toddler Christian. I’ve only just started! I’m going to have a wobble or two! – I thought that a good reply.
We are all of us barely toddler Christians, we all have wobbles from time to time. The book of Hebrews is reminding us that that happens,
and when it does you don’t need any more sacrifices, you don’t have to say ‘Well this isn’t working’, or ‘I must go back to the beginning and get baptised all over again’.
No. You have started a journey, become a pilgrim, and so we must allow God time to work within us, allow His love to change us.
Hebrews says God’s Holy Spirit is at work inside of us making us more holy, more the person that God has made you to be, putting His laws, his values, his love in our hearts. So we need to allow God opportunity to work His love in us and so to bring out the best in us as we grow as pilgrims, as Christians.
This means noticing when we get it wrong and coming to God with a sorry. It means stretching ourselves in receiving God’s healing love and from that strength beginning to offer forgiveness and healing to others.
And all of this requires us to have that confidence that says I know that God loves me. A Confidence that turns quickly to God when you have a wobble, when you fall over. Because we know that in Jesus our sins are forgiven, and with the Holy Spirit in us we are being internally equipped and encouraged to live a life full of God’s love.
And that’s not a call to a private personal life, but a call to live in community, to be part of a Church family, connected – even if that’s online – and that means being, as best we can, being my brother’s keeper. We are called to look out for each other, to be responsible for each other.
You’ll notice in the prayers that this is Safeguarding Sunday. The reminder that we are here to listen to each other’s concerns, to hear those who do not feel safe be it at home or work or school or somewhere. We are to give a voice to the voiceless and to stand with those who have been through, are going through, bad times. So we listen to and we act on and we pray for victims and survivors of abuse.
And that’s why we must spur one another on toward love and good deeds and not give up the habit of meeting together, but encouraging each other. Reminding each other that in Jesus was have a wonderful saviour who’s sacrifice reconciles us to God, so that we can have that confidence in our connection to God that we can come before God no matter how bad it is, and know that God will hear us and love us.
And we can know that God’s Holy Spirit is at work inside of us changing us into being more holy, more the person that God made you and me to be.
So if this is new to you then take a moment in prayer to ask for God’s peace and presence to come to you. And If you’d like to know more, talk more, pray more, then come up to the HS chapel, or stay on afterwards to talk to Carole or myself.
When we come to Holy Communion, come forward for a blessing.
And for those of you who have been baptised, I’ve put a stoop here for you to dip your fingers in, sign yourself with the sign of the cross, and remember your baptism, and remember God’s love that is upon you and within you.
And so remember the confidence that God has given you, to receive His love.
Amen.
the photo is of a small stoop. Henry is the name of the baby baptised this morning.