Drew Downs

Make a New Normal

Baptism

  • In chapter 4 of Matthew, we get two stories: the temptation of Jesus and the calling of the disciples. We ought to read them together.

  • When John baptizes Jesus, we’re witnessing the scandal of God’s true mission: that humans would participate at all in blessing the world. the scandal of blessing all of creation  Epiphany 1C  |  Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 So Jesus grew up. I know it’s only been a week since the wise men came and gave him presents —…

  • In Philip’s baptism of the Ethiopian eunuch, we see our own invitation to embody God’s love, share in the redeeming of the world, and the offering of hope in the middle of nowhere. If we recognize the invitation for what it is: our everything. an invitation to embody God’s love Easter 5B  | Acts 8:26-40,…

  • Why Baptism?

    “Why Baptism?” I should have understood the question. It’s my kind. Question that is. The kind I like to ask. A question which roots down to the point. And maybe makes the receiver mildly uncomfortable, like there’s a right answer and you don’t want to answer it wrongly. Now I’ve got it. And I pause…

  • I gave up New Year’s Resolutions years ago. But every year, I face the same routine of looking at my life through the lens of aging. Always. We get to midnight on New Year’s Day and by 12:01 am, I’m trying on the new year’s number with the fascination of a time traveler. How did we…

  • I’m supposed to want to baptize people. As a Christian and as a priest, I’m supposed to want people to come to the waters. Usually I do. I’m learning to loose my grip on the sacraments and serve the calling of GOD in respect for all the other people called by GOD. It just seems…