Sermon on The Baptism of Our Lord, 13 January 2019

“From Death to Life”

Isaiah 43:1-7

Psalm 29

Acts 8:14-17

St. Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

INI

I wonder what this young woman is doing these days. I met her when she was but a baby, when I was invited by Fr. Steven Katsaris, then rector of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Belmont, California. He wanted me to witness an Orthodox baptism, and I was more than happy to receive the invitation. There she was, held by her parents, naked, and I think, a bit chilly. After prayers, blessing of the waters and oil and putting oil into the water, there was the chrismation. Along with the godparents, they and the priest anointed Helene, slathering her body with the holy oil – she glistened. Then Steven took Helene by the arms and lifted her high over the font – shaped like a large pot and filled to the brim with waters. He said, “The servant of God Helene, is baptized in the Name of the Father. Amen,” and she was dunked completely in the water and raised up.  “And of the Son, Amen,” and again she was dunked completely under the waters and raise up again. “And of the Holy Spirit, Amen,” and for the third time she was sent into the waters and raised up again. The action of her descent into the waters saponified the oils, and she came up this final time not only glistening but bubbling with the saponified oil. Her godparents wrapped her in a linen cloth and enveloped her in their arms. An Orthodox baptism is a bit of a dangerous sport – as it should be.

The gentle baptisms with which we baptize our own in the Episcopal Church might want to take on a more dramatic effect – I’m thinking of what Isaiah writes in the first reading for this morning.

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.

Baptism is a dangerous calling, and we need to be reminded that when we were baptized, it was into the death and resurrection of Jesus. Aligning oneself with Jesus has its difficult aspects. The three days that follow Christmas are a good reminder of this: Saint Stephen’s Day – the first Martyr on 26 December, Saint John’s Day – an exile for Jesus on 27 December. And finally, Holy Innocents Day victims of King Herod’s wrath on 28 December. The church remembers them as Stephen, martyr in will and in deed, John, martyr in will but not in deed, and the Innocents, martyrs not in will be in deed. For those who kneel at the cradle, and those who decide to follow him by being drowned in the font, there are dangerous and death-like consequences. But we are called out of the waters and out of the fire, and out of death into something new.

There is a clue to new creation we are called to in the words that we just spoke, and the vows that we renewed. There is that continuation in apostolic teaching and fellowship, the braking of bread, and prayers. There is that resistance to evil, and repentance when we have sinned. There is that proclamation of God’s Good News by word and example. There is that seeking and serving Christ in all persons and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. Finally, there is that striving for justice and peace, and respecting the dignity of every human being. If you don’t think that is easy stuff – not dangerous stuff, just think on how our society values such things – how it is being forgotten and denigrated in our own time. You have been plunged under the waters only to rise as an example and expression of Christ’s spirit and word.

There is a small debate going on in the Episcopal Church – actually its going on in the Lutheran Church and is probably under wraps in the Roman Catholic Church as well. Ostensibly it is about the hospitality that surrounds that table, and the role that baptism has as an entrance to that table, and to the sustenance that is offered there. I’ll be more direct. Some have confused the hospitality of the altar with mere sustenance, nutrition, and welcome. The question that we need to consider with the Eucharistic Meal is “For what are we being fed?” Baptism as an entry to this table and meal helps us to realize that there is a cost that comes with the meal. We follow committed through our baptismal vows with food for the journey and the mission to our fellow human beings. Perhaps that is why the church is looked at as a weak institution by our time. We no longer ask anything of anyone. “Walk through the water with us,” we need to say and then have food for the journey.

There is another aspect to baptism, and not just a ritual aspect. In the second lesson we learn of Peter and John greeting the newly baptized in Samaria. Luke tells us that these Samaritans (and that is a remarkable thing in and of itself – Samaritans, hated by Israel) these Samaritans were baptized but in the name of Jesus only. The apostles recognize that something is missing – the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and the laying on of hands. The laying on of hands was a sign of the community to which they were aligning themselves, but the Spirit – the Spirit brought gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. If we are to be about the difficult and dangerous task of following Jesus and announcing his Good News then these gifts will be important – wisdom in order to discern wisdom, understanding to know the wisdom, counsel to hear the wisdom, fortitude to share the wisdom, knowledge of where the wisdom leads us, piety to observe the wisdom in our lives and worship, and the wisdom that flows from the fear of the Lord. These are the gifts that I hope flow to all of you as you begin this time of transition and change – a dangerous and challenging time, but definitely a time entered through baptism and blessed by the Spirit.

Luke invites us into the scene of Jesus’ baptism, and he describes all who were gathered there will him. “As the people were filled with expectation.” Perhaps that is the best way for you to enter a time of change and challenge – with expectation. What did the people who gathered with Jesus want? At one level they wanted an Anointed One – a Messiah. John reminds them that this is a dangerous choice – “He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. So, I wonder, what do you expect of your baptism? What do you expect of those who gather with you around this font, and at this table? What is it that you expect to share with those who visit you here – how will you share with them the Jesus that asks something of them? What will you expect of your new priest? This is the wisdom that needs to descend upon you. Most of all, I think, is that you need to hear the voice that Jesus and the crowd heard, “You are my Son, the Beloved, with you I am well pleased.” Jesus heard this and then went on to temptation and ministry. I hope that you hear it as well, that you are God’s daughters and sons, that God is well-pleased with you, and most of all that you are beloved.” These are the things that we celebrate on this day of the Baptism of Jesus and as we remember our own being drowned and rising up. Deo gratias!

SDG