Perhaps it is appropriate, as we prepare to baptise Brittany Rose that we think about what it is that brings a person to faith. Brittany will probably not remember much about this day as she grows up. And yet the impact of this day can indeed change who she is and who she will truly become. It is if you like and expression of potential - that she will be able to grow up with a real living and dynamic faith. After Baptism, this is the potential that we pray for her to reach this day. And this is what today's Gospel is about.

Think a little about it. The man on the bed was sick. We do not know if he had any faith at all, but his friends had faith. They picked him up, and carried him to Jesus. The man on the bed may have had little say in it, but because his friends believed, they carried him to Jesus and he was healed.

Now it is the same when parents and godparents bring a child for Baptism. This is not an expression of the faith of the child, but rather of those who bring her. It is in part, their desire to see something happen of the life of the child and their faith, no matter how small or embryonic, opens the door for Jesus action.

Do you know, that I believe strongly, that no-one can come to a dynamic living faith with out the active intervention of another believer. I was baptised in a small country town in South Australia - and although I have become a priest - I do not believe that there was anything extraordinary about that day. In fact, given the stories, my grandfather complained throughout the service at having to buy the baptismal register as I was the first baby to be baptised there. And yet I found faith, or perhaps better put faith found me. I have pondered from time to time about this, and the extraordinary lengths that God went to, to bring me to a point of faith. I can only understand it in context of a faithful Christian family that lived next door and they prayed for me that faith might blossom in me.

This is evangelism, but not by direct confrontation but by deliberate intercession. This is an expression of love expressed through concern for the ultimate outcome in the life of another. It is not dependent on the person being prayed for but the relationship between the intercessor and God. Like the man that had his four friends, each of us needs others to pray for our faith.

Nick, Petrina, Glen, Gerrard, Maree and Jacqueline you are to be primary in this task. You will need to take responsibility for the nurture and growth of faith in Britanny. But we the whole church cannot leave it up to you alone - it is our task as well, to uphold you in prayer and to pray that Jesus will come to be a reality in Brittany's life.

Nick, Petrina, Glen, Gerrard, Maree and Jacqueline, I hope this sounds a bit scary, for this is a task that is truly awesome in the truest meaning of the word. It is a bit like the task of parenthood, for most of us start out knowing little about how it should be done, but it is as we try that we get the hang of it.

Our story, in the Gospel reading also reminds us of the outcome. Faith was not enough - it was the encounter with Jesus that made the difference. When the man met with Jesus, Jesus responded to his need - not to walk, but to experience forgiveness. To know that God would put aside his sins that he might experience a relationship with God. Jesus starts the healing process not with the physical, but with the underlying problem - the breakdown of the relationship between this man and God. The healing of this division opened the door for his physical healing. And so he could walk.

Note the Scribes were more concerned with theology than practical compassion and note that in the long run it was not the understanding of Scripture that was important but the engagement with Jesus.

Each person here must make that engagement. And it is not dependent on how well we understand the Scripture, but how open we are to engaging Jesus face to face.

How about you? Have you met Jesus? Has some one prayed for your faith development? Have you fully lived up to your baptismal promises?

It is not to late, for Jesus is waiting to engage you. Perhaps it is not ourselves that is a concern, but rather that there is some one else that we should be praying for - carrying to Jesus on our prayers?

As we engage this story from Mark's Gospel, let us take up the challenge to carry others to Jesus and to allow others to carry us.

Nick, Petrina, Glen, Gerrard, Maree and Jacqueline may we as the faith community in Cressy be reminded to pray for you and for Brittany.

AMEN.