Brand new shirt: In the early church, newly baptized persons were given a new white garment to wear, symbolizing their new life in Christ. Today, we imagine we are given a new white garment, remembering our new life, the second chance we are given when we are baptized.

Some time ago, I was frustrated by an experience in which I tried to reconcile two parties between whom was bad blood that went back eons. The two parties agreed to a lunch. One party was already there, waiting for the other to arrive. When the second party arrived, there was a noticeable frost in the air, some hesitation before an awkward handshake. The waitress came and one party ordered food, while the other told her just to bring a glass of water. We suffered through some small talk, which I knew both parties only did to show respect for me. The food arrived, one party ate, the other sipped water. No one talked about the cause of the disagreement, and then lunch broke up. That afternoon, I happened to be talking with another minister and expressed my anguish over this failed attempt at reunification. I bewailed the glass of water. The minister simply said, "Our God is notorious for doing miraculous things with water."

Isn't that the truth? Look at today's texts! It almost looks like someone planned to celebrate "the baptism of the Lord" with water talk. In the creation story, the Spirit of God moves over the water and brings order out of chaos. Who could imagine bringing light out of water? Imaginative, creative, powerful, whimsical God, to take light out of water and chaos! Well then, in the Mark story, the Light of the World goes into the water and comes out to witness the heavens torn apart, the Spirit of God coming down to him. In creation, God speaks a thing into being. In Jesus' baptism, God speaks to claim a Son. In creation, the divine orders separate-on this day, it is light from darkness. In baptism, the divine action separates-calling the Children of God out of the world and into the family. Creation names, baptism claims. The Spirit of God, moving over the waters.

Do you remember your baptism? Were the heavens torn apart? Did you hear any supernatural voices? In recent years, there has been a trend toward acting as if baptism is "doing the baby" some Sunday morning soon after birth. The early church practiced baptism differently. There were some wonderful baptismal customs, reflecting the church's understanding that something really powerful happened at baptism, and it wasn't anything they did. They were trying to reflect what God was doing in baptism.

One of the customs, which I personally find coolest, was the idea that baptisms had to take place in "living" water-a stream or river where the water actually flows, a spring where the water bubbles up out of the ground. Then, when the newly baptized emerged from the water, they were put into new, white clothes. We don't literally do the new white clothes thing anymore, but we believe there is-not imaginary-but a spiritual new garment that we wear.

When you were young, did your parents buy you clothes that were too big, on the supposition that you would be growing into them? Boy, did we do that in my family! I remember one pleated skirt my grama got me in 4th grade. I could still wear it in college. In my circle, all little girls had suspenders as part of their wardrobes so we could hike our new skirt up under our armpits and hold it there so we weren't tripping over the hem. Well, when we are baptized, our effectual new garments-our baptism vows-are too big for us. We spend the rest of our lives trying to "grow into" our baptismal vows. In case you can't remember the details of your baptism vows, what you are promising is to try to be like Jesus. If you were baptized as an infant, your parents answered on your behalf, and when you grew old enough to do so, you confirmed those promises for yourself.

Try to be like Jesus. Hoo boy! That's something to bite off! That is more than ambitious-it's almost impossible to get my head around. I ran across something this week that might be an easier way to think of living into those vows. It's a list of Jesus' characteristics. I took the liberty of making some signs to put up on the walls of the sanctuary.

The first characteristic is "obedience"-this shows Jesus' unity with God, that he didn't look for anything for himself. "Simplicity"-Jesus didn't try to impress people, and when he didn't know the answer, he just said so. "Humility"-even Jesus wouldn't admit to being "good," since only God is "good." "Frugality"-in food (fasting), in sleep (praying alone all night), in personal relationships (loved people, but could get along without them if he offended them). "Generosity"-gave everything to God, without holding back towards people. "Truthfulness"-even his enemies had to admit that. "Purity"-no mixed motives, no self-interest. "Charity"-the old fashioned word for love, for compassion, quick forgiveness, gentleness, graciousness, self-sacrifice, bountifulness, courtesy, good will-all of God's love channeled through Jesus towards humanity, incarnate in Jesus.

All of these characteristics are water graces. These characteristics are part of our new baptismal garments, God's gifts to each one of us, by virtue of our baptism, by virtue of our promising to try to be like Jesus. We supply the dedication and discipline necessary to live into that promise, and God does the rest. Friends, what we need for today has already been given. Not, "will be given," but has already been given. Everything we need to live into these characteristics has already been given to us. God, from the abundant generosity of divine compassion, has already put this new garment on us. We are only asked to say "yes"-to keep on saying "yes"-to God's immeasurable generosity, God's unimaginable re-livening of even us. Say "yes!" Say, "Thanks be to God!"