Tuesday of the Second Week in Easter, April 29, 2025
Memorial of Saint Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor of the Church
(click here to listen to or read today’s scriptures)
Dedication and baptism
The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.
It isn’t every week that two babies are born to friends (are friends forever, for the Lord’s the Lord of them) with rooms in the same hospital, just a couple doors apart down the hallway. And it isn’t every day that the two babies, boy and girl, are dedicated and baptized on the same day, one in the morning, one in the evening. And it isn’t every grandparent that gets to be blessed, and bless, both those couples with all their love. We are two of those grandparents. It’s gotta be good. God is good all the time.
The community of believers was of one heart and mind.
Finn and family found their way to the Reserved For Parents place at church, and when the time came Aki held the microphone for a moment.  Violin and cello played quietly behind him -St. Francis’ “All Creatures of Our God and King.” Aki spoke clearly, smiling. Quiet. Happy. Content.
The Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
“This is Andi my wife, this is Miles and Jasper, and here is Finn Satoshi.” Everyone wore blue checked shirts, including Finn, because yes, he too is a boy. Pastor Matt laughed. “Ah, another boy. Everything in the house will be broken. That’s the way it works!”  Andi and Aki smiled. Then Pastor Matt prayed.
“Lord, we lift up Finn, and we are grateful for his presence here today. His name means courageous one, one with wisdom, and I ask that you would give him this courage.  Let him understand his place in this family, his unique role as the third born, the third little brother. I ask that you give him strength and courage in deed.”
 Matt put his hand on Jaspers’ head, and then on Miles’ head. “I’d ask these older brothers who know how to love him and care for him, how to be nice to him, that they would enjoy life together, the three of them, three boys – let’s go do great things for the glory of God!”
Matt laid his hand on Finn’s arm and belly. “Give Finn a vision for ministry early and often in his life, a perspective that you will never leave him and he will never forsake you, and because of those promises he will live confidently in the face of peer pressure … he has Jonathans and Davids living within his own house … I ask that you give him great friendships outside of the house that he can do this great ministry with.”
Finn’s eyes suddenly opened wide. Andi looked down on him and smiled. He pulled on the black bow tie above his infant-size, blue-checked shirt. He kicked his feet a little in the tiniest tennis shoes I’ve ever seen.
Matt put his hand on Aki’s back. “Bless this marriage, bless this covenant marriage, that they would be strong together and they would work together to love these three boys, and that you would help them understand how brave and unique they are. Care for them. I ask that you would bless this family, bless them in every way you can. May they enjoy your presence, in their marriage and in their family. We pray this in Jesus name. Amen.”
It was a great day for pictures, and it was later on Sunday that the Tomitas and Sandels met to celebrate with our friends George and Anne, as their baby Ruth Yael Enriquez was baptized.
The pastor asked George and Anne, “Do you promise to love and follow Jesus Christ all of your days?”
George spoke. “Yes, we do.”
“What is the name of this child?”
“Her name is Ruth Yael.” (The song of Deborah in Judges 5 begins with, “Extolled above all women is Yael.” Because of her actions, the people of Israel were saved.”
And then the pastor took Ruth into his arms and spoke to her as he sprinkled her forehead with baptismal water. “Ruth Yael, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.”
“Dear Heavenly Father, we come before you rejoicing that there is another daughter in your kingdom. We pray that there would never be a day when Ruth does not know you, and as she grows in her family she would grow first and foremost into your family. Watch over and protect her, help her parents, family and friends to raise her up in the fear and admonition of the Lord, and for her to love you now and through all eternity, starting today. We ask this in Jesus name. Amen.”
So let it be written … so let it be done.
With great power the Apostles bore witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great favor was accorded to them all.
 (Genesis 17, Psalm 105, Psalm 95, John 8)
(posted at www.davesandel.net)
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