As a parent of four children of color, I feel I must comment on Barack Obama's historic victory yesterday. Forty years ago, George Wallace was a third party candidate who ran on a segregationist platform: "Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever," he once said. And he actually won 5 states, receiving 46 electoral votes. Now, 40 years later, America has elected an African American as it's next president. Conservative and Liberal politics aside, I am amazed at how far our nation has progressed in my lifetime. And as a parent of four Ethiopian-born children, it is a joy to be able to concretely show them that in America, skin color doesn't disqualify you from anything -- even the highest office in the land. As John McCain said in his eloquent concession speech: "we have come a long way from the injustices that once stained our nations reputation and denied some Americans the full blessings of citizenship." God bless America as we seek to emerge from these challenging times and allow those struggling now to once again share in this nation's many rich blessings.
A Treasure Greater Than Heaven and Earth!
Last week, we started this journey through the catechisms’ (Large and Small) thoughts on baptism. And we remembered that baptism might seem like a human act – but is really God’s action. Today, we forge ahead with more. After hearing such wonderful news about God’s action in baptism, about the benefits we receive, including forgiveness and the promise of everlasting life, our next thought might be that of skepticism. So the Small Catechism leads us to ask, “How can water do such great things?” The answer: “It is not the water that does these things, but God’s Word with the water and our trust in this Word. Water by itself is only water, but with the Word of God it is a life-giving water which by grace gives the new birth through the Holy Spirit.” In the Large Catechism, Luther says even more on this topic: “Yes, my friend! Who does not know that water is water, … But how dare you tamper thus with God’s ordinance and rip out his most precious jewel?...
Comments