When the Homily is about Immunology

The Rebirth of my son Joseph

Joseph was baptized and churched this morning. While most of you no doubt know what baptism is (even if you adhere to the erroneous belief that baptism is reserved for "adults" - hehehe sorry couldn't resist), many of you probably have no idea what being churched is all about. Whereas Baptism is indeed one sort of a very profound churching, there is also an formal rite by which the newly baptized child is brought into the Church. And it goes something like this...

Standing at the door to the Nave of the Church, Sue hands Joesph to Fr. James who lifts him into the air making the sign of the cross, while saying: "The servant of God Joseph is churched in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The newly baptized one enters into the church, and through it into New Life, into the Kingdom of God." They then enter into the Nave as the priests announces: "He entereth into Thy house, to worship toward Thy holy temple."

They then both proceed to the middle of the Nave where once again the child is lifted into the air and the sign of the cross is made: "The servant of God Joseph is churched in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." And then the priest proclaims: "In the midst of the church shall he hymn Thee."

And finally Fr. James, with Joseph in tow, approaches the opened Royal Doors of the Iconstasis. He once again lifts Joseph skyward, facing the altar and making the sign of the cross: ""The servant of God Joseph is churched in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." And then Fr. James knelt down and gently laid our little boy upn the stairs leading to the Altar between the great icons of Christ and the Theotokos - an offering to the Lord.

Fr. James then moves away, faces the congregation and recites the hymn of Simeon the God-receiver, "Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart". This is Susan's cue and she approaches her son laying on the steps. She pauses before the Iconostasis and offers three half prostrations before picking Joseph up and bringing him back to us. It was hard to hold back the tears. What a joy, what a responsibility...thank the Lord for the instituion of God-parenting.