One baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:5b-6 NIV)

Holy Baptism is that great and wonderful instrument of our Lord through which he creates the one holy and saving Faith. Holy Baptism is simultaneously a divine and human action. Even as the one baptizing is acting in a human way, God is acting in the incomprehensibility of his awesome power and might. Even if the one Lord and one faith are not so impressive to our human senses the one holy Baptism is impressive to our sight. Even if we are quite limited in our vision and perception, yet we can realize that in holy Baptism the Church is present and active as  the one body and communion of the worldwide congregation of holy saints and Christian believers. Yes, there are striking differences between baptized believers, yet all Churches worldwide agree that in Holy Baptism  the calling to unity is manifest loud and clear. Holy Baptism is the foundation and unifying gift of our Christian communion. Through Holy Baptism we Christians are related and bound together with strong ties of faithful fellowship. That is why Holy Baptism is the universal trademark of all Christians and the living proof that they are all called to Church unity and communion of faith together.  This is given by the “one God and Father of all”. His fatherly goodness and mercy cares for all. He is graciously active amongst them in the Church. He dwells amongst them in his holy temple – the place where his glory dwells through his most holy Word and Sacrament. He is the driving force between Christian and Church unity. What a high and gracious calling to unity in faith, hope and love +

Heavenly Father! In Holy Baptism you have called us to be your children and blessed us with your gracious and heavenly gifts of divine life and salvation. We thank and praise you for this now and forever. Grant that we will not live according to our own ideas and desires, but rather live and behave as proper disciples of our Son Jesus Christ and obey the guidance and goodwill of your Holy Spirit as he leads and motivates us to promote the confessional unity in faith, truth and love. Amen. (Württemberg Church Book 1931)

He that believes and is baptized Shall see the Lord’s salvation; Baptized into the death of Christ, He is a new creation. Through Christ’s redemption he shall stand Among the glorious heavenly band Of every tribe and nation.

With one accord, O God, we pray: Grant us Thy Holy Spirit; Look Thou on our infirmity Through Jesus’ blood and merit. Grant us to grow in grace each day That by this Sacrament we may Eternal life inherit. (Thomas Kingo, 1689 tr George A.T. Rygh, 1909)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the seventeenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 340 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.