Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him by baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:3-4)

Our dog Roxie offends the olfactory senses.  (She stinks!)  I’ve never known a dog who needed more frequent bathing.  Her ‘fresh from the doggy spa’ smell lasts about 2 days. Within 2 weeks, unless you have a really bad head cold, you could find her in the dark wearing a blindfold.

Of course, it’s not just dogs who get dirty and smelly between cleanings; we all do.  Hygiene is not a ‘one and done’ enterprise.  There’s always more cleaning to do.  Bodies, houses, cars, offices – you name it – they all need regular cleaning.  My dad had a commercial janitorial business and I used to work for him.  One thing is for sure; janitors may not be well paid, but they have secure jobs.  Things always need cleaning.

My earliest understanding of baptism was that it was a special kind of bath that washed away sin.  That’s not an uncommon view of baptism.  But I used to wonder if baptism washes away sin, why do we only do it once?  I get sinful faster than Roxie gets smelly.  If baptism washes away sins, I need to turn our bathroom shower into a font.

The waters of baptism are not so much a ritual bathtub as a liturgical symbol of a watery grave.  In baptism we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection.  An old life is left behind and a new life begins – one that is in union with Christ.  In this way, the waters of baptism are like the water that breaks when a baby is born.

Even with a shiny new life, we still get dirty, we mess up, break things and hurt people.  We need to regularly turn away from our sins, ask for forgiveness and make things right wherever we can, but our mistakes and our failings don’t undo the new life God has given us.  Martin Luther said that baptism only takes a moment to perform, but a lifetime to fulfill.

Prayer:  Merciful Savior, you have raised me from death to new life.  Forgive me when I turn back towards the ways of death.  Today give me grace to live like someone risen from the dead.  Amen.