Easter 7 – Narrative Lectionary 1
June 1, 2019
Grace, Mankato, MN
Romans 6.1-14
Do you not know that all of us 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, we too might walk in newness of life.
I always meet with parents before a baptism and I always enjoy doing so. We have great conversation together. It’s an opportunity to get to know them, to hear their faith stories and do a little education about baptism besides. Quite a number of years ago and during my previous call, I met with mom, dad and baby daughter. We talked about the many aspects to baptism, one of which presents itself in our reading today. At one point in our time I looked at them rather dramatically, and said, “We’re going to kill your daughter.” Of course, I unpacked that in good Pauline fashion, but I learned later dad had all he could do to come across the desk and kill me.
Paul, the writer of this letter, has just spent a great deal of time reminding the congregation in Rome about the need that all of us have for God’s salvation in Jesus Christ. This is true whether we are Jew or Gentile, Paul’s way of saying everyone. And he’s made the case that the salvation wrought in Christ’s death and resurrection is freely given to us. We cannot earn it no matter how hard we try. We cannot heal the breach that sin created between God and humanity. Only God can do it. Then just before our reading, he compares how sin came in through one man Adam (and Eve!) with how grace came through one man, Christ. Paul says that no matter how much sin there is the grace coming through Christ is far greater. Where sin abounds, grace abounds even more.
But then Paul can just hear the wheels turning in some of the Roman heads. Does that mean it doesn’t matter what we do, that we can keep on sinning because God’s grace covers it all? As someone once said, “I love to sin and God loves to forgive. What could be better? We’re made for each other!” Paul’s response to that unspoken question is, “God forbid!” here translated rather tamely as “By no means!” He goes on to tell the Romans (and us) that through our baptisms we have been baptized into Christ’s death and because Christ has been resurrected from the dead that we will share in the newness of life as well. We are dead to sin and alive in Christ.
Though it doesn’t seem like it sometimes, Paul wants us to know that we stand in a new reality. This reality is one where, in Christ, we have the capacity to live the life that God intends for us. I’ve been watching Marvel superhero movies with interest lately and thoroughly enjoyed one of the more recent films, Captain Marvel. As I watched this film about someone who discovers what she is capable of, I was reminded of the DC film, Wonder Woman. Diana, Wonder Woman’s alter ego, was shown as a young Amazonian girl being trained by her aunt. At one point in the training, the aunt says to Diana, “You are more powerful than you know.” As the film goes on Wonder Woman discovers that she is indeed more powerful that she knew. Paul might say the same to us, that because we are in Christ Jesus we are able to live more powerfully than we think we are capable of.
Now, Paul is no Pollyanna and understands full well the power of sin, death and evil still present in the world. And we know that there are some situations that no amount of faith can change, at least in our time. But even in the midst of those circumstances and for most of us, Paul encourages us to live as who God has made us in Jesus Christ. We are dead to sin and alive in Christ. Maybe, if I’d taken that next step with that new dad, telling him how because of dying to Christ his daughter is more powerful that he or she could imagine, and how he will help her live into that reality, just maybe he would have been less angry and more hopeful for his daughter’s life. In Christ we have new life as one dying to live. Thanks be to God. Amen.
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