Expectations

I know if it has happened to me, it has happened to a lot of you.  On this Sunday morning you arrive at church at a different time.  There are more cars than you expect, and fewer parking places.  As you walk to the church, you notice many more people wearing suits and jackets than you expect.  And there are more strangers than you expect—and there are young people with flowers or corsages on their dresses.  Maybe there are little babies.  Then it hits you. Today there are going to be baptisms!  Worse, this is confirmation Sunday and you expect the Bishop will be here.

It is enough to ruin your whole day.  You expect that your pew will be taken by one of the many strangers at church.  You expect not to be able to see very well and you expect that the sound system will probably be on the blink and you will not be able to hear either.  And you expect the sermon to be long and boring, or short and uninspiring—does it matter?  You expect the babies will cry as they are baptized—and you know none of the confirmands.

But today your expectations will not stop there.  These young people have completed their study and training and are going to stand before the Bishop, the congregation, and God, and proclaim their faith in Jesus Christ.  What is so special about these young people is this ... we know them!  They are ours. They are dear and special to us all. And they have chosen to be Baptized or confirmed—standing against the tide of popular culture and living their faith for all of us to see.  Thanks be to God!

Peace,

Father Mark+