A cartoon in a recent New Yorker magazine, pictured two men, in somewhat tattered clothing, obviously down on their luck, sitting on a park bench in Central Park, and telling each other the story of how they arrived at this point in their lives.

The one man says, “You know things weren't always like this for me! I used to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I had a wonderful wife and family; beautiful house in Manhattan; big Mercedes; more money than I knew what to do with, the whole 9-yards... And most importantly I got there all by myself... I didn't need or want anyone's help. When I ran into problems, I didn't run to consultants or counselors, or God.... I conquered them... myself. If ever there was one, I was a self-made man. ”

The other man scratches his head, looking at the sorry state of his friend, and asks: “Well.... what happened? How do you end up here, with nothing but the clothes on your back?”

The former CEO was quiet for a moment, as though he was realizing the error of his ways. And then he looked confidently into the eyes of his friend, as though he had no doubt whatsoever about cause of his downfall, and replied: “I switched to decaf.”

Sometimes, the things that we imagine to be the root cause of our problems in life... are not actually so.

One of my mentors, Fr. Mickey, is a retired archdeacon here in the diocese. He is a beautiful example of a human being and a priest. The other day we were talking, and I told him the joke I just told you. We laughed together, and then he said: “You know, I don't think there is anywhere that our creativity as human beings is more apparent than in our ability to create new ways to commit the same old original sin. We're just so skilled at escaping the truth.” And we laughed again. But, as usual, he'd make me think. To be honest, my first thought was: “Who but Mickey would still use a term like 'original sin' nowadays?” But, then, it hit me that the reason he still could use a term like that, is because he still understands its real meaning. He is still able to think deeply about our contemporary problems and their underlying spiritual causes, whereas so much of our culture – like the former CEO in that joke – seems clueless to the spiritual dimension. It's like we don't have a vocabulary for it any more.

Sadly, the real meanings of ancient words like “sin” and “repentance” have been completely gutted in our culture... by scary, hellfire religion, on the far right; and by boring, spiritually empty religion on the far left.... And this is a profound loss, because when a culture no longer understands the real meanings of ancient words like these, then our great spiritual resources – like the Scriptures and the Book of Common Prayer; like the Sacraments of Baptism & the Eucharist – all become inaccessible, even unintelligible, to us. They become strange relics from a world that no longer really makes sense to us. And they are from another world. But if we are able to decipher what ancient words like these really mean, we find that they're actually not frightening, or boring, or repulsive at all. In fact, they are powerful spiritual tools for understanding and resolving life's most difficult problems.

In the Hebrew Scriptures, from the story of Eden onward, the word “sin” always refers to an ancient pattern in which we (1) attempt to deny our human vulnerability, to pretend that we are God, and, then (2) try to escape from the tragic consequences of our denial, often by blaming it on something or someone else. The tale of Adam and Eve is the classic account of this pattern. Sin is that state of mind in which finite, created beings say in their hearts to the Creator: “Back off! I don't need your help; I don't trust that you have my best interest in mind. I'll take care of myself, in my own way. Me, I know I can trust.” And so, sinful acts, like the murder of Abel by Cain, for example, are just the natural expressions of that mindstate, which recognizes no power higher than itself, and seek to absolutely control life, as it sees fit.

In the Christian Scriptures, the word “sin” is very interesting. It is the word in Greek that was used in the ancient Greek dramas to describe the tragic character flaw (hamartia) of the hero... that one thing which would inevitably trip him or her up in the end, and create suffering for all concerned. Like Achilles heel, it's that tragic flaw which inevitably leads to the hero's downfall, no matter how great and powerful he or she may appear.

And so, when we take in the Biblical drama as a whole, Jewish & Christian Scriptures together, we come to understand sin as that basic character flaw that is revealed in humanity's persistent refusal to accept that it is not God, that it is finite and vulnerable, and absolutely dependent on the love and grace of God in order to stay centered and sane, and truly flourish. Sin, in the Biblical drama as a whole, is that tragic flaw in us which wants to deny the truth that we need to be taken care of by a loving God. When my friend, Mickey, was laughing at that joke, what made it so funny for him, was that he understood the basic human character flaw that was beneath the former CEO's demise. So, for Mickey, it was not only funny; it was wise, because Mickey still understands ancient words like “sin” and the truths behind them.

The traditional word “Repentance”, on the other hand, refers to a total reversal of the mindset of sin. True repentance is an attitude that only arises in me when I discover that I really am loved, that God really does have my best interests in mind, so that I can finally stop trying to control life, I can finally relax, accept my vulnerabilities, and entrust myself to God's loving care.

From the very beginning of Jesus' ministry, these ancient words, “sin” and “repentance” and all of these spiritual themes of love and trust and vulnerability … are beautifully symbolized in the waters of baptism. From the very beginning, Jesus is always accepting his human vulnerability, always totally depending on the One he called Father. He he lacked our root character flaw (in traditional language: he was without sin.) But, nevertheless, by receiving his own baptism, he models for us... the cure for the root flaw in human character. He shows us the sacramental solution to our most basic spiritual problem.

In the sacrament of our baptism, the visible waters come together with the invisible grace of God that the water symbolizes. As we see Jesus, standing in the waters of the Jordan, he is speaking to us, not with words, but just by his being there in the waters of baptism. It's as though he was saying to us: “C'mon in – with your vulnerability, and your flaws, and all. It's o.k. You can do this. I'll be right here with you.”

What makes the waters of baptism sacramental for us is Jesus being with us in the water. Because he is with us, there is Grace within these waters, Grace that enables us to turn away from that fearful refusal to trust anyone but ourselves; Grace that enables us to turn toward the God who is Love, the God who Jesus reveals to us is safe for us to trust.

In a sense, the real “program” of Christian life, what really makes it “work” on a day-to-day basis, through all of the ups and downs of life, is staying in the water, with Jesus. That's where we are empowered to keep turning away from that fearful refusal to trust anyone but ourselves; that's where we are empowered to keep turning toward the God who is Love. That's where liberation from our tragic character flaws happens.... because...

• When we stay in the water, the Holy Spirit gives us that blessed assurance that we belong to God, that we are precious to God, just as Jesus was.

• When we stay in the water, we are empowered to make it through all the hot deserts of temptation, just as Jesus did.

• When we stay in the water, we are empowered to live our lives in ways that bring good news into the lives of others, Just as Jesus lived.

Now, obviously I'm not speaking literally here. Jesus got out of the water, and was led into the desert, and went on into Galilee to begin his ministry. He didn't just stand in the river Jordan for the rest of his life.

But, on a spiritual level, in his mind, in his heart, he never left the waters of his baptism. He never left that sacred pool which symbolized the empowerment to always turn away from self-reliance, and always entrust himself in every circumstance to the one he called Father.

So, I'm not suggesting that you go home today and fill up the tub, and never get out again. But in your heart, in your mind, stay in the water with Jesus. Stay in that spiritual place with Jesus, where you are comforted and empowered by him to be like him in how you live.

Here is a creative prayer exercise for you to experiment with during the week:

I'm going to ask you to close your eyes for just a moment:

In the privacy of your own mind, imagine a big, beautiful font, or pool of crystal clear water. And there's no one in the water, except Jesus and you. The water temperature, the lighting, the scents, and any other details – are all just as you would like them to be. And you recognize that this is the place where, spiritually, you were born, and it is a place you love to be in, because Jesus is here, and he is the one who loves you completely, perfectly, and eternally. And that's real. We're using our God-given imaginations to move in closer to that Divine Love. But it's real.

You can open your eyes.

We can do a creative prayer exercise like this here in church without too much trouble. But the challenge is to keep doing it, inwardly, in the privacy of your own mind, “out there.” So what I invite you to experiment with this week is to do your best to stay there, in the water with Jesus, all week.... even when your eyes are open... no matter what you're doing.... no matter how you're feeling... whether you're alone or with other people, whether it's quiet, or noisy; in your heart, in your mind.... stay in the water with Jesus. You don't have to strike up a conversation with Jesus; you can if you want to, but just being there with him is enough. And whenever you realize that you've forgotten about it, that's o.k., you don't have to scold yourself, just get back in the water. And see what kind of difference it makes in your life this week. I'll be curious to hear how it went. Amen.