Jesus, speaking about the world of God, said that it grows even without realizing it. People do not know how sowed seeds grow in the soil, but similar to their sprouting and bearing fruit, the world of God is neither visible nor hearable, but there is no doubt that it is growing. It means that the world of God (the work of God) proceeds profoundly and silently.
The other day, one particular married couple was baptized and practiced confirmation at Church I. The wife used to be a kindergartener at this church-affiliated school and, for many years, had been interested in Christianity; however, she was hesitant in becoming a Christian because her family was Buddhist. She has, at this time, made up her mind to become a Christian along with her husband.
After the service, she said it had been a long way until now. It had taken fifty years since her kindergarten years for her to become baptized. But the work of God (the world of God) had been with them and lead them to be baptized and receive confirmation.
And recently, the father of Reverend I’s partner S was baptized. S said to the father, “Dad, you’re now a Christian for you’ve been baptized.” But the father replied, “Yes, but it hasn’t hit me yet.” It’s a charming conversation, but once again, the work of God is hidden behind all of this.
There’s probably not so many who feel a sudden change in becoming a Christian after baptism. Especially in baptism for infants, there’s probably close to nothing felt by the infants for they are not even aware they have been baptized. Myself, upon being baptized, remember feeling nervous, but did not actually feel any immediate change or even feel I had become a Christian. I think the same can be said for most people who experience this.
Are we not Christians if we don’t actually feel it? That is not so. The work of God is profound, silent, but for sure. It may not be seen, heard, or felt by people. However, we are, without a doubt, together with God and Jesus through baptism. We are Christians for sure. The father of Reverend I’s partner S might not have felt it, but he is a Christian for sure. The silent work of God goes beyond the sense of people.
We are not able to understand the whole spirit of God. There are numerous things that are only understood by God and not by humankind. But that is fine too. I believe not understanding everything about God is, on the contrary, a blessing. What will happen if humankind found out everything about God? It is a fearful thing when you think about it. It is enough that God, and only God, knows it.
The world of God is growing silently but for sure. As for the couple at Church I, the world of God for fifty years had grown silently. In the case of the father of Reverend I’s partner, it took far more greater years than this. Nevertheless, the work of God, without a doubt, is submerged profoundly and silently, and brings us to this baptism and confirmation. We will look on to the growth of the world of God.
The world of God is growing somewhere, or in a place relatively close to us. What a joy it is to live our holy lives looking forward to what kind of world God will show us next.
Jesus, speaking about the world of God, said that it grows even without realizing it. People do not know how sowed seeds grow in the soil, but similar to their sprouting and bearing fruit, the world of God is neither visible nor hearable, but there is no doubt that it is growing. It means that the world of God (the work of God) proceeds profoundly and silently.
The other day, one particular married couple was baptized and practiced confirmation at Church I. The wife used to be a kindergartener at this church-affiliated school and, for many years, had been interested in Christianity; however, she was hesitant in becoming a Christian because her family was Buddhist. She has, at this time, made up her mind to become a Christian along with her husband.
After the service, she said it had been a long way until now. It had taken fifty years since her kindergarten years for her to become baptized. But the work of God (the world of God) had been with them and lead them to be baptized and receive confirmation.
And recently, the father of Reverend I’s partner S was baptized. S said to the father, “Dad, you’re now a Christian for you’ve been baptized.” But the father replied, “Yes, but it hasn’t hit me yet.” It’s a charming conversation, but once again, the work of God is hidden behind all of this.
There’s probably not so many who feel a sudden change in becoming a Christian after baptism. Especially in baptism for infants, there’s probably close to nothing felt by the infants for they are not even aware they have been baptized. Myself, upon being baptized, remember feeling nervous, but did not actually feel any immediate change or even feel I had become a Christian. I think the same can be said for most people who experience this.
Are we not Christians if we don’t actually feel it? That is not so. The work of God is profound, silent, but for sure. It may not be seen, heard, or felt by people. However, we are, without a doubt, together with God and Jesus through baptism. We are Christians for sure. The father of Reverend I’s partner S might not have felt it, but he is a Christian for sure. The silent work of God goes beyond the sense of people.
We are not able to understand the whole spirit of God. There are numerous things that are only understood by God and not by humankind. But that is fine too. I believe not understanding everything about God is, on the contrary, a blessing. What will happen if humankind found out everything about God? It is a fearful thing when you think about it. It is enough that God, and only God, knows it.
The world of God is growing silently but for sure. As for the couple at Church I, the world of God for fifty years had grown silently. In the case of the father of Reverend I’s partner, it took far more greater years than this. Nevertheless, the work of God, without a doubt, is submerged profoundly and silently, and brings us to this baptism and confirmation. We will look on to the growth of the world of God.
The world of God is growing somewhere, or in a place relatively close to us. What a joy it is to live our holy lives looking forward to what kind of world God will show us next.
The Rt. Rvd. Peter Ichiro Shibusawa