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Baptism & Butterflies

Over the last few weeks, I have been talking about the possible celebration of the Sacrament of Baptism, on Palm Sunday.

The topic of 'Baptism' prompts many questions.

"Why, or why not?"  "Do I need to be baptized?"  "Do I have to have my child baptized?"

The simple answer is, "None must, but likely all should." The question I particularly like is, "What happens at Baptism?"

Monday's 'Quote-of-the-Day' (from a home calendar) was, "There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." - Buckminster Fuller

As I read that quote, I recalled that a number of years ago, I shared an interim ministry with the late Bishop Roland Wood. For Lent, we invited the Parish children to make "cocoons" using empty toilet tissue rolls.

Each child first coloured a picture of a beautiful butterfly. Then, (s)he folded it carefully, tucked into a roll, and wrapped that in brightly coloured paper. Finally, the children put them on the wall, by the chancel cross.

Great idea, or so we thought!

The idea was not bad; the choice of wording proved to be a problem. One of Bishop Roland's grandchildren reminded him what butterflies do not emerge from; "Butterflies emerge from chrysalides!

The bishop and I stood humbly corrected.

The end result of that Lenten project was something like a miracle. On Easter Sunday, the children arrived to see so many beautiful butterflies adorning the Parish Chancel! Until then, no one knew of the beautiful butterflies that would emerge!

It is a perfect  metaphor for baptism: we do not know what will really happen at baptism!

History shares many stories of faith, which in reality, began at Baptism. With Baptism, we are each given the gift of new life.

Through our prayers, and Christian witness, we each grow in the stature of Christ--in our own, unique and beautiful, way!

Blessings in Christ,
Archdeacon Brian