October 12, 2003; 18 Pentecost B Readings: Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Hebrews 3:1-6; Mark 10: 17-27;Psalm 90.   The Rev. Dr. Hilary B. Smith Personal not Private Today we welcome Ariana Jayne Wilson into the church through baptism. She has been God's beloved child, and now, in a few moments, she will become a Christian. She becomes part of the Body of Christ. She will be marked as Christ's own forever by the power of the Holy Spirit. As she grows, she will learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus and a member of a faith community. She will learn what discipleship means throughout her life at different times in different contexts. For us who are baptized, there is always more to learn. There is always more to discover about God's great love for us. There is always more to discover about how we are called to love God and each other. The rich man in our gospel reading came and knelt before Jesus. He desired to learn more about life and faith and God. The man had been living a faithful life; he had been observing the commandments. But he knew that there was more for him. He was anxious about inheriting "eternal life." Eternal life is not simply about life after death. For one who follows Jesus, eternal life begins now. We experience glimpses of the kingdom in our time when we are united with Christ. As members of the Church, we seek to live in ways that promote justice and peace. In this way, the Church becomes a sacrament that connects us to things eternal. The rich man was at a turning point in his life. He had been a good person, but now God was calling him to a closer relationship through fellowship with Jesus. It was time for the man to grow spiritually. Growth is never easy. Growth often comes with discomfort. We can want spiritual growth so much, and, yet, hesitate when the cost seems too high. Jesus looks at the rich man and loves him. Then Jesus speaks the truth to the man in love. "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." The man received an invitation to discipleship. With the invitation comes a requirement. He will have to give up something in order to follow Jesus. Wealth can be a hindrance to following Jesus. Many things can get in the way of spiritual growth. Jesus was offering the rich man everything that he could ever want. But the offer required the man to let go of his individual concern. He could not do it. His possessions were many, and he did not want to part with them. The cost seemed too high. His private agenda got in his way. We celebrate Ariana's baptism today in the context of the Sunday Eucharist. There was a time in the Episcopal Church when baptisms were done in private. Often the priest would go to the family home and baptize the baby with just the family present. Today, we have baptisms in the midst of the faith community. Why? Because this is the place where Ariana will be guided as she grows into the full stature of Christ. To emphasize that we are committed to her Christian pilgrimage, we will all be able to sign her baptismal certificate. As she grows, she will be able to look at the signatures and know that you were here for her today. With her family, we are the people who will care for her and love her. While Ariana's baptism is personal for her, it is not a private event. We, as a parish, rejoice with her and her family. Our faith is strengthened and renewed. We are reminded of the importance of our life together, and of the power of the Spirit, which unites us. Amen.