Baptismal Sunday
Lent 2021 • Sermon • Submitted
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Evolution of Lent
Evolution of Lent
What is the other name for this Sunday? Baptismal Sunday! but why?
Evolution of Lent
Started with about a 2 day fast leading to resurrection....floating day of the week. 15th of Nissan.
Eventually fixed to Sunday after the Jewish Passover
Slowly more days were added to commemorate events of the week…maturing into Holy Week beginning with Palm Sunday
how and when 40 days of fasting where joined to HW is unclear....No definitive resources
One theory…catechumens preparing for baptism would fast 40 days likely starting after theophany to mimic Christ.
on the Friday of the 6th week (end of the 40 days) the baptism were performed and for a time associated with the making of the Myron.
At some point the 40 days were affixed to HW and the preparation week was added and Baptism were then pulled one week earlier placing it on the 6th Sunday of Lent…fitting for the Gospel of the Blind man, who was given sight.
Making of the Myron also shifted and so its believed that in order to take the place of the Myron on the last Friday of lent…unction of the sick was put in.
Baptism
Baptism
Two complimenting themes
Death and Resurrection (Jordan typology)
Romans 6:3 “Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?”
Old and New
Old man and new Man
Old Adam and New Adam
Flesh and the Spirit
In turning to the Gospel and readings of today, we see a strong theme of the old and new
Old Man and New Man
Old Man and New Man
A blind man is limited in functionality
Especially in biblical times, when resources and aid was next to nothing.
Assistance was by change
A miserable life of begging was nearly a guarantee
Similarly, life apart from Christ is limiting and deceptive
Pauline Epistle in Colossians 3 articulates this old man / new man comparison well.
Old Man
8 But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices,
New Man
10 and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—
12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. 14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.
Paul in Colossians clearly captures a transition from one way of living…(Flesh, passions, corruption, etc) towards another (Spiritual life: brotherly love/kindness, forgiveness, sacrifice, etc.)
Fullness of Baptism comes in both themes
Death and Resurrection marks an event…the beginning of our spiritual sight
Old man —> New Man comes with the the clarity of sight.
Baptism opens our eyes to seeing God for the first time and as we endeavor in our spiritual journey, God becomes clearer —> formed to His likeness.
So it’s very fitting for Baptisms to occur on this Sunday and its also beautiful for us to be reminded of our ongoing transformation into the New Man…becoming Christ like.
In our on-going transformation, we are sure to be rejected by this world, exactly like the Blind Man was thrown out.
35 Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.”
How nice is it for us to step into Holy Week where we look so intensely at Christ learning from Him forgiveness, compassion, sacrifice.