We are Godparents

August 27, 2023

The Rev. John Motis

Ever-living God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and hope of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for-ever. Amen.

I grew up in the age of comic books and Super Heros. I remember Superman, Batman & Robin, The Lone Ranger, The Phantom, and some others. I loved watching them either in cartoons or on television, reading comic books. Now more recently, various movie remakes are about them. It always amazed me how they suddenly appeared when there was trouble and people needed help. These super-heroes would perform some superhuman feats of strength and save the day at the last possible second. These had all the ingredients to capture the mind of a young boy growing up. The thing that always impressed me was the way they conducted their lives in complete anonymity. Everywhere they went they left people wondering – “Who was that man?”, “Where did he come from?” Although they left people in a state of awe and wonder, they also left people wondering. They were very selective. Their secrecy impressed me, and it also frustrated me. I couldn’t understand why the people didn’t recognize them. It seemed so very obvious to me. In real life they looked exactly like the super-hero! Really, just a costume or a mask!  

In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus asked his disciples what I believe is the most important question of their lives, “Who do you say that I am?” He asked the other question; however, I don’t believe the most important question at the time: Who do they say that I am!” To be fair, the most important question in all our lives is who do we believe Jesus is. Once we have that figured out then we are ready to respond to the “they” people in our lives!

Jesus was a person who left people wondering who he was. There were many differing opinions as to his identity once Jesus appeared on the scene and began to perform mighty miracles and presented teachings like no-one had ever heard before. But despite the many and varied opinions as to his identity, Jesus wanted to make sure that his own disciples knew who he really was.

Jesus had been with his disciples for about two years. Throughout that time, He had presented himself as the Messiah through His teachings and miracles. He had suffered the rejection of the religious leaders and had received a mixture of responses as to his identity from the community.

Even John the Baptist, the prophet, forerunner of the Messiah wondered.

John had his own questions: remember, earlier in the Gospel of Matthew? When John was in prison, and he had heard what the Messiah was doing? He sent his disciples and said to Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them by quoting from Isaiah, “Go tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.” Jesus went on to say about John, “This is the one about whom it is written. See I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.” In other words, “look at the evidence.”

The religious leaders are against him, they resent and challenge him, they continue to test him, demanding signs from heaven. They don’t see or recognize Jesus, the Messiah, the One to come is among them, in fact right, in front of them! The ones who should have seen and understood, didn’t. They all had spent their entire lives watching and waiting for the coming Messiah. When He finally came, they didn’t recognize Him because He didn’t look or act like their Messiah, the one they wanted. They didn’t want to be challenged. They didn’t want their happy life to change. So, they rejected Him.

In today’s Gospel we see a transition in Jesus’ ministry. It is changing, moving in another direction: He has now moved away from teaching around Capernaum, the miracles and teaching to the crowds was slowing down. Jesus was now preparing to go Jerusalem. His focus was turning to all that Jerusalem would mean. “From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

He chose to begin this change by first moving His ministry and His disciples outside the religious communities of Galilee. He chose the region of Caesarea Phillipi, even though only 25 miles away. This region was very, much different. Their religious practices were vastly different from those of the nearby Jewish towns.

Caesarea Phillipi stood in a lush area near the foot of Mount Hermon, it was also the religious center for worship of the Greek god Pan. In the cliff that stood above the city, local people built shrines and temples to Pan. Some are still visible today. To the pagan mind, the cave at Caesarea Phillipi created a gate to the underworld, where fertility gods lived during the winter. They committed detestable acts to worship these false gods. “The Gates of Hell”

When Jesus brought his disciples to the area, they must have been shocked. They knew what was going on here. And certainly, devout Jews would have avoided any contact with the despicable acts committed there. It was a city of people perhaps knocking on the doors of hell.

Jesus chose this place because it represented the ugliness, the darkness, the evil brokenness of our world. Jesus chose this place to bring life into death, light into darkness. He chose this place to present a clear challenge with his words at Caesarea Phillipi; The Christ has come into the world. He didn’t want his followers hiding from evil; He wanted them to storm the gates of Hell.

Standing near the pagan temples, he asked his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter boldly replied, “You are the Son of the living God.” (Words given Peter by Divine Inspiration)  I’m sure that the other disciples must have been stirred by the contrast between Jesus, the true and living God, and the false hopes of the pagans who trusted in dead gods.

Jesus continued, “You are Peter, on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.”

God was at work, Jesus, the Son of the living God was laying claim. On that truth, Jesus He would build His church. God is in the world in the person of Jesus Christ. This is the rock-The Christ, The Messiah, through Him we have hope and new life.

Because Jesus lives and has promised life to all of us: this morning, on this Connection Sunday we will be participating in the life changing act of Baptism. The Baptism of Gallagher Jahna and Alane Richardville. We are witnesses as their lives will be changed forever through the washing away of their sins as they begin their new “connected” life in Christ.

In Baptism we have a new identity, community and have eternal life. Our community is the whole church. Not just Good Shepherd! The Church-The Body of Christ.

Part of Baptism is the choice of Sponsors for adults and Godparents for children.  

I ask you, how many of you are God Parents? If so, how involved have you been in the life of the person? I really never thought about it before until I was preparing for today, I spent some time thinking about the people that I am a God Parent. To be honest, I feel convicted in several ways. 1st, I had trouble remembering who they all are, I could come up with 10 and I’m not sure that is all of them. Therefore, I also must admit that in nearly if not all cases, I have done a pretty lousy job. I’ll blame it on not really understanding what I was committing to. Is ignorance an excuse for guilt?

You see, the role of God parent is not an honorary position. We might have been chosen because we are someone that we can trust, family, a relative, friend or perhaps someone seen to be the serious type, maybe even religious!

I used to believe after standing in the front of the church with the parents, reciting the words, that this was it, all done. I didn’t really have to do anything except stand up with the parents on Baptism Day. Then in the unlikely event, possibly called to action, to step in if the parents were to die or something. I was sort of the backup plan. Otherwise, standing safely on the sidelines. Maybe a Birthday card. I even thought that the kids might come to my house if something happened to the parents. A guardian.  Confused and Misguided, I think.

I realize now that I failed in those times when I had the opportunity to have an influence, to say something that might have made the difference, when I didn’t do anything. I failed. These were the times when I had the opportunity to plant the seed that would have led them in a different direction in their lives. That meant that I would have risked rejection.

I was given a license when asked to be a God Parent. There is so much more that I could have done. Some have struggled. I stood by and watched, I was there at the Baptism, there when they were brought into a new community, the church, the Body of Christ. Then what?

Don’t miss this: The Good News is that despite my failure, God who is always faithful, through His love and grace redeemed it all.

The Book of Common Prayer describes our responsibility this way, “Finally adult members of the church, parents or others, are to take responsibility for those newly baptized and see that the promises made in their name are carried out. The role of Godparents should not be seen as an honorary. Serious commitments are made and should not be made by those unable or unwilling to keep them.”

Unlike adults, when an infant is to be baptized, obviously no personal response of faith is possible. Therefore, others must speak on behalf of the child and take on the responsibility of seeing that the child does learn to understand and respond to the Christian faith. Godparents are asked to commit themselves to seeing that the child they present is “brought up in the Christian faith and life” and to pray for the child and witness to the faith by their own lives.

This is not only for them; for you see, I believe that we are all God Parents to everyone around us. With the same responsibilities.

We may not have our name on a certificate like ones given at Baptism. You see, many times before and TODAY we will again be asked, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support these persons in their life in Christ?” We all committed! We said, “We Will”.

Today, on this Connection Sunday is a perfect time to consider where and how God is calling each of us to be connected. There are many opportunities. In other words, where is God calling me to be? How do I serve those, “Made in His Own Image?”

Our role as Christians, is reaching out into the community. Serving, and drawing people to their own personal encounter with the Living Christ.  

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he says that we will all give an accounting for our lives. I believe that includes an accounting as to how we helped those around us. I don’t believe that we should be compelled out of fear; it is out of love. Why? Because He loved us first…

Jesus calls us because of our baptism. He empowers us by His Holy Spirit. If Jesus asked you today, “Who do you think I am?” How will you respond?

My question to each of us this morning is this, “What is God calling me to do now?” God created us as social beings, led to Christ through People! It is through us that they will come to know Jesus!

I will close with the same prayer that I began: Ever-living God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and hope of his resurrection, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for-ever. Amen.