Feast of St. Mark

In a parish far away, long, long ago, we had used a horse trough as the baptismal font, for the Easter Vigil.  Of course we fancied it up with a skirt and flowers, and the like.  But I would think about how  after our dozen or so adults were baptised, Sparky the horse would have use of this tub when ever he or she needed a refreshing drink.  I think of this as I am reading about the dignity of the Baptismal font.  I suppose if no one knows its a trough it really doesn't matter.

St. Mark's Gospel describes the dignity of the font, or more so of baptism from another direction.  For Mark the Kingdom of God has a great sense of urgency. The movement in his text is fast paced as the journey of Jesus moves very quickly.  More so the center focus on Mark is the proclamation of the Gospel stemming from our own conversion and discipleship.  A true disciple is wholly committed to the Lord, and speaks about the Kingdom of God.  They can use words if they want to; paraphrasing Francis of Assisi. 

For St. Mark the true dignity of one's baptism would be to recognize who we have received and imitating the mystery that we celebrate through our practice of dying to oneself.  Jesus is portrayed as often reiterating to his apostles the dynamics of discipleship.  The Apostles are shown to misunderstand the teachings of Jesus and to become concern about their own status and position.  Throughout Jesus offers the reminder that to follow him means to serve God and one another.  Loving God with our whole heart, mind and soul, is the process of dying and rising with Christ.

The oppressed, powerless, and anawim, accept Jesus fully because they have no expectation of status.  The rich, for example, will have a more difficult time, since they hope to retain a name for themselves.  If we want to live with the Lord we have to be willing to die with the Lord.  This conversion and discipleship is a difficult task at best.  It includes an ongoing process of striving to walk on holy ground.

Perhaps a true disciple would not be too concerned about being baptised in a trough.  It goes along with washing feet and being born in a stable.  But it is our heritage that we continue to proclaim Good News.