Godparents Sunday......
In the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen! We
have come here today to partake of the greatest banquet we as Orthodox Christians could
ever image. This banquet, of which I tell you about--- our Lord and Savior invites us
freely of His own will and without a formal invitation. But why does our Lord host this
banquet,---because He loves us! ------------We are always invited, and yet,--- some choose
never to attend for reasons of their own. This banquet I speak about is the Divine
Liturgy.
For at this particular Divine Liturgy, our Church has set aside this day so that we may
come to reaffirm our pledge to Christ,-- ---- that same pledge that was made at our
Baptism, ------the pledge that said yes!----------we are united to you, -------Yes!, I am
obedient to you, -----------Yes!, ------I am an Orthodox Christians.
Through our Baptism, Jesus gives us a new kind of life. A life that one day will allow all
of us to be heirs of His Heavenly Kingdom only if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Through our Baptism we have aligned ourselves to Christ's' Christian family. Through our
Baptism, ----------our putting on of Him,----------allows us to reap that which He has
promised to us.
We have come together this morning as brothers and sisters in Christ and as Godparents and
Godchildren to declare once again our unity with Him who died on the cross. But more than
the unity we have come to say, I am yours Lord! Today, I reaffirm to you that which I
received at my Baptism:------------I reaffirm the immersion in water that washed me of my
sins------ ----------I reaffirm the seal that was offered to me by the Holy Spirit that
tied me to you and your Holy Orthodox Church.----I reaffirm the new clothes that signified
the new life that I received.
Our Baptism into the Orthodox Church was not an initiation into a club or society---but a
new life-----a joining of our cleansed soul to our Heavenly Father. Let us behold this day
to cry out loud with the word YES, I have strayed from you Lord, but I come to you today
to say, I am your servant, ---------Forgive me for I am the worst sinner of all. Accept me
as an Orthodox Christian and heal my broken soul for you are great! In a few moments, let
us receive the light of Christ and allow that light to always shine forever in our lives,
guiding us every moment of our lives to the understanding of the commandments of our Lord
and to help us live them. Let us reaffirm to Him who constantly forgives us and shows His
mercy on us the same Love He has for us to our fellow brothers and sisters.
As Godparents, reaffirm to our Lord that same instruction He gave to you the day of your
Godchild's' Baptism; -------------to, "teach them to observe all that He has
commanded you: --that He is with you always, to the close of the age."
As God parents----------live a Christ centered life and continue to instill within your
Godchild's' life our Holy Orthodox Faith as a light bearer. ---------As one devoted to
receiving salvation for yourself and for your Godchild.
Let us rise and pray that today,---- our Lord will grant us peace from above and healing
from within. Let us open our hearts and reaffirm our souls to Christ and Say again that we
acknowledge You as our Lord and as our King and God. Let us reaffirm those words
proclaimed at your Godchild's Baptism--- --that you denounce Satan and all his works and
all his angels and all his pomp. Let us give glory and thanksgiving to Christ- --our
God--------- who hung on the tree of life and for dying on that tree so that we may live
forever. Amen