Daily Reflections From Higher Things®

Today's Reading: The Small Catechism: Baptism Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 6:19-7:17; Acts 19:1-22 Baptism is not just plain water… (The Small Catechism: Baptism, pt. 1) In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Any church with a prominent baptismal font invites the question, "Is that holy water?" I've been asked this any number of times. There are two answers: yes and no. The water in the baptismal font that is used to unite sinners with Jesus comes from a tap in the back room at church. There is nothing holy or special about the plumbing. The faucet is not even gold plated. At my church, the bowl which holds the water in the font is obviously an old mixing bowl that came from someone's kitchen. Holy? Hardly. No, the water isn't blessed or holy. It is plain water. But it is not just plain water! It is water and Word together that make a Holy Baptism! What makes it holy? The holy Word of God makes this water holy, for the sinners who are brought to this water are made holy here. There is nothing special about this water