Matthew Shepard was beaten to death simply because he was gay. At the sentencing of his killer, Matthew’s father, Dennis Shepard, insisted that his son had not been alone after his batterers left him tied to a fence outside Laramie, Wyoming, even though 18 hours passed before a biker found him. Mr. Shepard sees Matthew in the embrace of lifelong friends:
There were his lifelong friends with him, friends that he had grown up with…
First, he had the beautiful night sky and the same stars and moon that we used to see through a telescope. Then he had the daylight and the sun to shine on him. And through it all he was breathing in the scent of the pine trees from the snowy range. He heard the wind, the ever present Wyoming wind, for the last time. He had one more friend with him; he had God. And I feel better knowing he wasn’t alone.
Jesus’ baptism is a moment like Matthew’s. Jesus is not alone but in the embrace of Father and Spirit.
For many Catholics and other Christians their baptism takes place in the embrace of family, friends, and parish congregation. When our family last gathered for a baptism, the deacon invited us to sign the child’s forehead with a cross. His parents, grandparents, and godparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, each in turn made the mark of faith on his forehead, expressing their desire that he grow up in their faith. His great grandmother, who prayed for them all each day by name, was still alive and blessed him.
- Who surrounded you at your baptism and desired faith for you?