The marriage and baptism are two sacraments in every church tradition. They are sacraments because they connect the individuals with the rest of teh congregation in a public testimony of being incorporated into the corporate witnessing mission of the church.
A family formed in marriage is a testimony to God's grace and blessing to live 'cleaving to each other' as God desired that 'man and and woman be united to become one'. It is this 'oneness of the two in marriage which points to God who makes this happen by making the two grow in intimacy and togetherness in love and mutual submission. It is a miracle when that is the way of life in a family.
At baptism a child or adult is introduced to the common heritage of the faith community when a new member is 'engrafted' into this pilgrim community and that person receives the formative and supportive accompaniment of the rest of the believing community. It is also an unusual experience as faith journey is both an individual and corporate calling. Jesus of Nazareth who called us to 'love our neighbour as yourselves' makes His followers live mindfully of others. It is in such a community we can often experience true self giving and an agreement on the common good.
These sacraments are accompanied by rituals. The bride arrives for marriage in a procession of the choir, presbyters, bridesmaids, flower girls and the bride accompanied by her parents. This tradition is a noble ritual of honouring a woman and bringing the focus on her at marriage as a woman is the one who is at the centre of fulfilling the calling of marriage as 'every man is born from a woman'. It is a ritual that has stood the test of time and traditions in church history.
After the baptism the baptismal fellowship is an occasion of celebration of safe motherhood and infancy of the baby and a collective thanksgiving for all the mercies and care provided for by many for family's journey through pregnancy and childbirth.
The inscription of 'Holy' three times at the altar of this church tells it all! It is towards God who is Holy that we commit ourselves as we enter into at marriage and baptism!
I write this when America and Iran plot war against each other and there are protests in different places in India after the violence that erupted in Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi yesterday!
The peace that endures violence is the peace we are called upon to announce through the sacraments of marriage and baptism!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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