What do you think God looks like? Ava and Clarke might find themselves drawing what they think God looks like when they reach Sunday School age. Most of us are brought up with the sort of image of God as an elderly man with a big white beard sitting on a cloud in heaven. In the OT there are lots of attempts to describe a God who we cannot see but with whom we have an intimate relationship; he is likened to a king, a mighty warrior, a shepherd- the writers of the OT were seeking to demonstrate not only his power and authority but also his care for us.
In fact Clarke and Ava are more likely to draw pictures of Jesus Christ. He was a human being like us so any picture we draw of Jesus is likely to be more accurate than any picture we might attempt to draw of God. But Jesus can be thought of as God’s self-portrait in Jesus God shows us what he is really like.
We are now in the middle of the season of epiphany, which literally means radiant appearance’. During this time we remember and celebrate those stories when the light of Christ’s divinity shone forth in the world.
The wedding at Cana is one of these stories. It is the first sign in John’s gospel of who Jesus really is. You’ll notice that Jesus wasn’t delivered neatly packaged with a label around his neck saying I am the Son of God’. He was a man who lived in a community, who joined in all the rituals and social structures of this world. He and his disciples went to weddings and he clearly enjoyed a party.
It is in being with others that his identity was revealed. And God’s identity is also revealed. We learn of God’s generosity and desire to give more than we ask for or need. But stories like these show us not only who God is but who we might become. By God sharing in our humanity in Jesus Christ, we are given a means to share in his divinity.
This might be confusing but as we will know from our own experience and from novels, films and music, we are each involved in discovering who we are and who we’re called to be. We might not put it in these words but every major choice we make- what work might I do? Shall I go for promotion? Should I marry this person? Should I remain single? Should I support this political party or that one? – are in part decisions about identity.
Trying to discover our limits and our potential, what gives us freedom and at what price, can produce conflict within us. Toddler tantrums, adolescent angst and mid-life crises are all part of this search for identity and self-understanding.
Right now for Ava and Clarke the possibilities might seem endless. Brain surgeon, Prime Minister, parent, priest- none of us can yet know what they might do and who they might become. As their life progresses and decisions are made, initially on their behalf, and later as they choose the course of their life for themselves, the options will narrow down and certain possibilities will close.
But the decision their parents have made on their behalf is one them gives them a new identity- as adopted children of God. In a moment I will ask Clarke’s and Ava’s parents and godparents
Do you turn to Christ as Saviour?
Do you submit to Christ as Lord?
Do you come to Christ, the way, the truth and the life?’ At the font we will thank God for the water of baptism for In it we are buried with Christ in his death’ and by it we share in his resurrection’. All these things point to the fact that in baptism we come to share in Christ’s identity. Put literally we are Christ-ed’ which is where the word Christened’ comes from.
But just as Jesus’ identity was revealed in community, so we learn who we are and who we might become through our interactions with others. And for Christians this means within the Church community. As Christians we make decisions and understand our identity in the light of who God is and who Jesus Christ is but we need other people to help us in understanding God and understanding ourselves in the light of God.
This is what Paul is getting at when he writes to the community at Corinth “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
We are not given gifts from the Holy Spirit simply for our own sense of well-being or self-esteem but for the mutual benefit of one another and so that God’s glory might be revealed in all its diversity.
At the end of this service Ava’s brother Louis and one of Clarke’s sister’s Evelyn will take a lit candle on their behalf. Clarke and Ava are to walk in the light of Christ all the days of their lives. In doing so they will reflect Christ’s light in their lives.
We are each called to reflect the light of Christ in a way which only we can. Because we are all unique we each glorify God in a way that no else can. Our task is to be alert to the moments of epiphany which reveal God’s desire to bring us more deeply into relationship with him, and possibly how he may do this through those around us.
Baptism is something we do which glorifies God and is a moment of his self- revelation. Clarke’s and Ava’s baptism changes them and it changes us. It reminds us that our God is a God who always brings more wine to the party and whose blessing always outnumber our capacity even to count.
Amen