Contemplating Grace

Baptism by Fire, Part 5 I baptize you with water…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.[1] Baptism with water can be a powerful ritual that welcomes a person into church membership and can offer a symbolic cleansing of one’s old self. A lot depends on how we approach and receive it. If … Continue reading Baptism by Fire, Part 5

Baptism by Fire, Part 4 I baptize you with water…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. [1] After my children were baptized, both as infants, our extended family went out for a nice dinner. It was a celebration of a happy, traditional ritual, after which we all returned to life as usual. … Continue reading Baptism with Fire, Part 4

Baptism by Fire, Part 3 I baptize you with water…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.[1] When John the Baptist was asked if he was the Messiah – the anointed one chosen by God to save the Jewish people – he responded that one greater than he would come as the Messiah. … Continue reading Baptism by Fire, Part 3

Baptism by Fire, Part 2 I baptize you with water…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.[1] Lest anyone write off baptism as a trite or minimally-meaningful religious rite, there are interesting psychological and symbolic aspects to baptism by water that are worth considering. Bodies of water are common archetypes for the unconscious, … Continue reading Baptism by Fire, Part 2

Baptism by Fire I baptize you with water…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.[1] John the Baptist plays an interesting, if abbreviated, role in the life and teachings of Jesus the Christ. Described as a relative of Jesus’ through their mothers, John’s biblical role seems to primarily be one of announcing the … Continue reading Baptism by Fire