Epiphany I

By The Rev. Martha Frances+

First Sunday after the Epiphany

Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ

13 January 2008 

Text: Matthew 3: 13-17

Other:  Isaiah 42: 1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43 

      On this the first Baptismal Sunday of 2008, it is our joy to gather together to baptize Chisom Ndubuisi into God's Church and welcome him into this church community.  As we prepare for this awesome responsibility, let's once again open ourselves to the possibilities of transformation which our taking our own baptismal covenant seriously can mean to us personally & in community. 

      After greeting the Magi from the East last week & learning of their journey to visit the new King; after celebrating the Gentles' inclusion & acceptance into the Christian community, we turn now to the 2^nd major theme of Epiphany: the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ & our own baptism made more pertinent by Chisom's baptism.

      Jesus decides to be baptized by John in the Jordan River. John protests, recognizing himself as the lesser of the 2, knowing that Jesus' baptism would somehow forever change both their & their followers' lives, & begs Jesus to baptize him instead.

      Jesus' answer to John is a peculiar one, & to understand it, we need to remember both Jesus & John were reared on Hebrew scriptures, understanding the term righteousness, meaning they are fully obedient to the revealed will of God. Jesus calls those who follow him to a higher righteousness than simply what is required by law.  It takes both John & Jesus for God's plan to be fulfilled.  Righteousness is akin to justice in which all things, all people, indeed all creation are put back in order, returned to balance, "righted" as we would set right a lopsided chair. 

      Why did Jesus, the sinless one, have to be baptized by John with a baptism for forgiveness of sin?  In what better way could Jesus show his solidarity with people than to be baptized?  Jesus was indeed fully human.

      Notice the first intent & action comes from God.  God calls both Jesus & John to be obedient, to a radical fidelity to God's commands.  Then, at the moment of John's baptism of Jesus, God's assurance pours upon Jesus publicly.  The heavens open, the Spirit of God descends dove-like upon Jesus, & a heavenly voice says, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

      God is not addressing Jesus privately but pointing Jesus out to John & the others there at the Jordan.  Matthew tells this story as an epiphany, a showing-forth of Jesus to all as both God's Son & also the Suffering Servant we heard about in the Isaiah lesson today.  At this moment when Jesus' purpose is made manifest, with Jesus on the brink of public ministry, God's words & actions are reminiscent of God's dove-like movement over the chaotic waters at creation & also prepare us for Jesus' passion when he must suffer as God's servant.  Themes of many Old Testament stories are recalled in the blessing prayer over the baptismal waters we'll pray in a few minutes.  Please listen carefully.

      Now there's a danger in our picturing Jesus' baptism & thinking that something spectacular should happen to Chisom before or during his baptism if it's real.  So we expect fireworks.  How can we presume that the almighty God to whom we prayed a minute ago, the Ruler of the Universe, would not be powerful enough to accomplish God's purpose in Chisom's or indeed our becoming daughters & sons of God?  It doesn't matter whether that happened at our parents' decision when we were infants or children as is true with Chisom today or if it happened by our own decision when we were teens or adults.  God is faithful & will do the job completely—God doesn't make mistakes.  We are called upon to trust, having faith that God's purpose has been accomplished, just right, the first time.

      Nor do we have to reach some level of perfection to come forward for baptism. Baptism is not the graduation—the prize—for having lived a Godly life.  Baptism is the entrance rite, the beginning of a life in Christ, just as Jesus' baptism was the announcement of Jesus' public ministry.  In baptism, God is the chief actor; we are called only to respond faithfully, not perfectly. 

      When we stand with Chisom & his family & godparents in a few minutes, we stand as a community of Hope, the village that it takes to rear a child, as we did with big brother Tobe last year & Chidera several years ago & quite a few infants & children & teens since we've been together as Hope, solemnly promising to be an extended family for our youngest Christians, modeling covenant behavior so that they & we might be lights in the world, becoming more Christ-like just as Jesus came to earth to be like us. 

      You might say, "But I'm too busy just surviving to take on such a responsibility."  However, the Baptismal Covenant is simply the practical enfleshing of Jesus' 2 great commandments: to love God with all our hearts, souls, & minds, & to love our neighbors as ourselves.  What, my brothers & sisters in Christ, is more important than fulfilling these promises in our community lives?  And HOW do we make good on these promises?  By prayer & by putting feet & hands to our prayers, my friends.  Let's look at the covenant briefly & then, when we stand to renew it in a few minutes, let us do so in hopeful prayer, knowing that God can do for us more than we can ask or imagine.  I will wager that this community's honest openness to live out these promises in our lives will grow the church, deepen our faith & God's wisdom in our lives, & solve our financial conundrum.

      You may follow me in the Book of Common Prayer on pages 304-305 if you'd like.  First, we state a basic incarnational faith in a Trinitarian God through Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit using the Apostles' Creed, an early statement of faith.  Want to know more about this & other creeds?  Join our confirmation class on Wednesday nights after Easter, even if you've been confirmed for years.  Christian education & formation is a life-long process.

      Who we should be as a gathered community is the first promise to which we respond, "I will, with God's help."  The early Christian fellowships, even before they were called Christian, grew exponentially by coming together at least weekly to pray, to share a communion meal, to learn from those who've come before, & to enjoy each other in community.  Not just when it's convenient, folks, but weekly unless seriously hindered from attendance.  If you're ill, please call the church office so we can send Eucharistic visitors out to bring the bread & wine to you so that you are still in communion with the gathered community.  Our own faith deepens when we gather in small groups during the week to pray & study scripture & care for one another.

      The next promise recognizes that we all sin.  I know; that's a great shock to some people, but it doesn't say if we sin but rather whenever!  Gaining strength in resisting evil takes the form of telling God we're sorry & that we want to amend our ways whenever we find ourselves in sin.  We have general confession during most worship services.  The Episcopal Church also offers private confession for anyone who needs to acknowledge persistent sin & let go of it.  As your priest, I am always ready to hear your confession & then we'll use a prayer book liturgy to put what weighs on your heart behind you & begin new life.

      St. Francis tells us that we need to preach the Good News of God in Christ to everyone we meet, using words when absolutely necessary.  We all know actions speak louder than words, & our proclaiming the Gospel in going about our daily lives inevitably reaches more people.  We don't do this to earn salvation; that's a gift of God's grace.  We show God's love in our lives out of sheer gratitude for all God has done for us.  How many ways can we become more intentional in walking the walk?

      Before Peter baptized Cornelius & his family, he revealed a new learning for him.  We read in Acts today that God shows no partiality, accepting all from any nation who seek God.  A new concept to the Jewish Peter, but we've heard all our lives that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, yet there are those people in whom we find it hard to see Christ, much less serve Christ.  Let's start today praying to see Christ in every person whom we meet, even those who bother us the most, & then pray that, strengthened by the Holy Spirit, we respond to the Christ in each person.  Not easy, my friends, but at the very heart of the Gospel.

      Finally, when we respect the dignity of every human being, not just those we meet but also the masses who need justice & peace just as much as we do, then we must become involved in larger movements actively making a difference in the world.  Yes, we choose vehicles which meet our heart's concerns most closely—perhaps Episcopal Relief & Development or Heifer Project or Bread for the World which is holding a workshop here the end of the month—or packing a care package for soldiers overseas or clothing the tattered at Lord of the Streets or exploring how many ways our prayer & action can help fulfill those Millennium Development Goals.  We do not have the luxury of expecting someone else to strive for justice & peace & work for the dignity of all others.  As Christians, it's part of our job description—every one of us!

      Quite a list, isn't it?  And yes, we already do some of what these promises call us to do.  In a few minutes when we stand to renew them in our lives, may we do so with our ears & hearts open to how God will help us fulfill them more fully, for Chisom's sake as well as our own.  Amen.  Alleluia!