Rev. Paula Beikirch

Finally, in late afternoon, Gerold had milked the last cow and carried the milk to the spring house.  His thoughts raced as he walked to the house.  He had had nothing to eat today.  Nor, would he eat until tomorrow morning.  He was fasting in preparation for his baptism.  During the past few weeks, called Lent, Gerold had been fasting and praying to ready himself for this time of complete abstinence prior to his baptism.

Ever since the Brother Adelbert had told him about Jesus three years ago, Gerold had noticed a great change in his life.  He felt differently about others.  More kindly, he thought.  He also sensed a kindness in return from those who would be his brothers and sisters in Christ.  He could better understand God in the world that he knew.  Not only in the Lord’s provision for people, but also how he had planned the seasons, the birth times for the animals, the cycle of sowing and reaping, and so much more.

In training for his baptism into the Body of Christ, Gerold had attended worship every Sunday for three years.  After worship, one or another of the monastery Brothers would teach Gerold and the other catechumens about Jesus and the Almighty God.  They heard stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, the Exodus, David, and the Prophets.  On the times that the Bishop came, he had read them the Gospels, the Letters of Paul and the Apocalypse.  He explained what all these stories and letters meant for Christians.

Then, last Sunday, the class had received information about the vows they would make at their baptism.  During the past week, he and his classmates had been examined on the instruction the Brothers and the Bishop had provided.  Tomorrow, at dawn on Easter, Gerold would be fully initiated into the Christian faith. 

The Bishop would ask, “Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty? “

And, Gerold would answer, “I believe.”  Then, the Bishop and the Deacon would lower him into the water.

Likewise, with

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who was born of the Holy Spirit from the Virgin Mary, and was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and was dead and buried, and rose again the third day, alive from the dead, and ascended into heave, and sat at the right hand of the Father, and will come to judge the living and the dead?

And, he would answer, “I believe.”  And, the Bishop and the Deacon would lower him into the water a second time.

Again.   “Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, and the holy church, and the resurrection of the flesh?” 

With the answer, “I believe,” the final immersion would be accomplished.  Then, baptism.

This was all Gerold knew about the particulars, except that after their Baptism, he and the others would be allowed to stay on in the worship service and receive their First Holy Communion.  Yes, he was excited and happy that he was to become a Christian.   He had to dress himself and get to the monastery church to begin the Easter Vigil.

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