Baptismal Fire

During the summer, a lot of people like to camp. One of the activities a lot of campers like to do is sing campfire songs. There is a popular song that was written by a Gospel songwriter in the 1920’s named Harry Dixon Loes. The song is entitled “This Little Light of Mine.” You may even know this song.

Only one line in each verse changes. The verses begin with one phrase, and that phrase is followed by "I'm gonna let it shine" which is repeated three times.

But did you know that Loes also included a different phrase that repeats three times in each verse? That phrase is “Jesus gave it to me.”

I mention this song because Jesus did give us a light, and we received that light from God at our baptism. You may remember that each time I baptize someone, I give that person a candle. Whoever baptized you probably gave your candle to your parents.

To light the candle, you need fire. Jesus talks about the fire of his baptism in our Gospel today (Luke 12:49-53). When you were baptized, that fire was not only on the wick of your candle. That fire was lit in your heart. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit lit the fire of love in your heart so that you could love God and all people like Jesus did.

Today, I want you to ask your parents to tell you something about the day you were baptized, and how God’s love in their hearts was rekindled or re-lit.

With that, let us pray. Heavenly Father, from whom all fatherhood in heaven and earth is named: Bless these and all children, and give their parents the spirit of wisdom and love, so that the homes in which they grow up may be to them an image of Your Kingdom, and the care of their parents a likeness of Your love. We pray in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.