Last Sunday was a wonderful day! We baptized little Alice Floyd. Today is a wonderful day as we baptize little Marin Motis. Sometimes I think I should bunch baptisms together, but, honestly, I’d baptize someone every Sunday if I could. It’s one of the very best parts of our life in Christ.

The decision to be baptized is huge, as is the decision to baptize a child. We place a lot of emphasis on that decision and the promises we ask the candidates to make, or their parents and godparents to make on behalf of a child. We take very seriously our collective responsibility as witnesses and our promise to “…do all in our power to support this person in her life in Christ.” “We will!” Then we renew our Baptismal Covenant with them.

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We pick up today’s Gospel right where we left off last week. Jesus has just raised a 12-year-old girl from death to life and healed a woman with a hemorrhage in Capernaum. In each case, faith led to healing.

Now he has made the trek to his home town of Nazareth, about 26 miles to the west and up 1900 feet into the hill country of Galilee. Although today Nazareth is a bustling city of over 83,000 people, back then it was a village of about 500. That’s 1/10th the size of Fort Meade. And it’s about the size of Church of the Good Shepherd.

I don’t expect you all know each other, but imagine if the whole town was this church, and this church was the only church and the only gathering place in town, besides the well. You’d know everyone and they’d know you. And not just who you were. They’d know your personality and character. Many would have watched you grow up. They’d know your stories as well as you do - maybe before you do.

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Life is a story, and within that story are many stories, and often within those stories are embedded further stories. Today’s Gospel has a story within a story, within the great story of Jesus, and there are many stories layered within these stories.

Jesus has come back across Galilee to its western shore, probably Capernaum. Jairus, whose name means literally “he will awaken” is a leader of the synagogue. He approaches Jesus and falls at his feet. This moment passes very quickly as written, but we should take a moment to soak it in.

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