Gazing at Grace

I know that we need to get through spring before we get to summer, but I've been gazing wistfully out of the kitchen window at the pool in our backyard in anticipation of that first descent into the clear refreshing water. But as much as I enjoy the invigorating blast, I'm often quite content to spend my time basking in the sun as I relax on a floatie at the end of the day.

However, it will take some work before the pool is ready for use: a careful rinsing of the filter to make sure that it isn't clogged up with the debris of winter, a thorough sweeping with the pool vacuum to pull up the mucky stuff that is stuck to the bottom, and a few gallons of bleach and some chemicals to clean and clarify the murky water. The ladder, which has spent the duration on the pool deck, will also need to be installed.

Speaking of water, in the early church, Lent was a period of instruction and preparation for those wishing to be baptized. Baptism took place at the Easter Vigil, and when the time came, the candidate descended into a baptismal font and was immersed three times in the name of the triune God. The rite of baptism symbolizes the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus: the beginnings of new life in Christ.

As we approach Easter, I find that I am gazing wistfully once again, this time out of the holy window that will bring forth the discovery of the empty tomb, although I am painfully aware that we can't get there without following Jesus to the cross. But since Lent isn't over quite yet, we still have time to unclog the filter of faith of the worldly debris that keeps us from having a relationship with God. Jesus has vacuumed the mucky stuff called sin off the bottom of the spiritual pool, and God has added the holy chemicals necessary to make the murcky waters clean and clear as we prepare ourselves for the sacred day. And so let us descend into the water to be immersed in the love of our triune God as we remember our own baptism; for we will rise cleansed of our sins with the gift of new life in Christ as we bask in the glory of the Resurrection.