Concordia Theological Seminary's 27th Annual Theological Symposium begins Tuesday morning this week.  I have attended the last several Symposiums as continuing education.  I find them to be challenging and stimulating.  This year's theme is FROM FONT TO GRAVE.  The title struck me as daunting.  It obviously means the time from baptism to death.  Every Christian lives in just such a time frame.  But what occurred to me was not the life we live between these two events, but the death that accompanies it.  Romans 6 reminds us of a profound and comforting truth: ^" Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."  (vss 3-6)  At our baptism we are both living and already dead in Christ.  This paradoxical state of affairs is theologically correct.  Our hope is in Christ and our baptism seals us for the flesh-and-blood living we do.  What's more, when that living is complete the resurrected life continues from the grave.  I'm excited to be part of an event that will explore this life-in-death we live between our baptism and our burial.  FROM FONT TO GRAVE is the Christian's life span we know in the flesh.  And by the grace of God that life does not end when our flesh returns to dust.  For that we should all give thanks and praise to God.

A couple of weeks ago Mother Theresa of Calcutta, India, was canonized as a Saint by our Roman Catholic friends.  She was recognized for her exemplary dedication to the lost, least, and last in that teeming city.  The ancient practice of canonization is laden with tradition and purpose.  The Church takes note of lives which reflect the will and love of God.  While there are specific and necessary components to the Catholic custom, I only want to mention the most obvious.  The Latin word "canon" means "rule."  It is authoritative.  It is an example for our own following.  It's a guideline for our own living.  Following the gracious example of Saint Mother Theresa of Calcuttawould put us in good company, indeed.  And would surely bring a smile to the face of God.