Our Rector, Fr Mark posed the question “What is the link between Easter and the Sacrament of Baptism?” and went on to call us to bring more people to know the great news of Easter.
Having reminded us that in the early church new Christians having prepared for 40 days would be Baptised on Easter Day by full immersion. He told us they were “Dunked in to the water not once, not twice, but three times” as a reminder of the 3 days between Jesus death and resurrection. Fr Mark went on to tell us that in Baptism we die also, ‘we die to sin’, as he drew a connection between Christ’s Death on Good Friday being to wipe away our sins; and the waters of Baptism cleansing us of all sin. He affirmed that the consequence of Baptism is that we have been brought in to the hope that after the way of Christ we to may have eternal life.
He reminded us of Our Lord’s last words on earth were to command us to Baptise all human being.
“Why are we keeping this great news to ourselves?” he asked. In the Easter Gospel we read the news of Jesus Resurrection was immediately spread , first by Mary Magdelene and then by all the other Apostles. In this Diocesan Year of Prayer for Growth and Renewal, we need not only pray for Renewal and Growth, but action it in our deeds. So this Easter go and tell the wonderful news of the Resurection to all you encounter.
The full sermon can be viewed here at 20mins.
