Homily For The Baptism Of Our Lord Jesus Christ
8 Janaury 2006
The Cathedral Church Of St. Philip , Atlanta
The Rev. Canon Todd Smelser, Homilist
For many people New Year’s is a time of new beginnings. We begin a new round of diet techniques, or we begin to go to the gym more regularly, or we begin a new job or perhaps a new personal venture. Some of us are still beginning to write our Christmas cards, while others are caught in a bit of reverie—where did the past year go?
Last Sunday, the first day of January, the Church celebrated the Feast of the Holy Name, when, on the eighth day, Mary and Joseph presented their newborn son to God, and where he was ritually circumcised as one who was now part of the Jewish community. The shepherds paid the newborn homage, but Mary treasured all these things in her heart. And the baby was given the name Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Our celebration of Christmas officially ended on the Feast of the Epiphany when we heard again of the visit of the Wise Men to the stable in Bethlehem , and the Church announcing a season of manifesting Christ’s light and presence to the world. And now, just a few days later, here is Jesus all grown up, striding off into the wilds of the desert to find his cousin, John the Baptizer. This is Jesus’ first adult decision, and his first public appearance, presenting himself to John for the baptism of repentance.
If you were here during Advent you will remember that John the Baptist held center-stage for the second and third Sundays of that short season. A prophet in the great Old Testament tradition, John preached in harsh tones about the need for the people of God to repent and to return to covenant relationship with God, because, in his view, at least, the end time was near, when the Messiah would come. But there he is today in his other role, as the baptizer, offering a ritual washing in rivers and streams as a sign of repentance and return for God’s people.
Have you ever wondered why Jesus had to go into the wilderness to be baptized? After all if Jesus is truly the Son of God, without sin, why would he need to do this? We can almost visualize Jesus joining this long line of rather seedy characters, all approaching the river. What was he doing in that crowd of sinners, looking and acting like one of them? What did he have to be sorry about? These are the kind of questions that faithful Sunday school teachers sometimes fear, for the answers are anything but simple.
I’m not sure the Church has really been very comfortable with Jesus’ baptism. Some of the Gospel writers even seem embarrassed by the action, and John bears witness that the Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus, but doesn’t mention anything about a baptism at all.
St. Paul says in 2 nd Corinthians that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself…” All of Jesus’ life and ministry was about rediscovering God’s love and inviting right relationships with our neighbor. This Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, became human to be with us especially in the depths of our deepest sin, and in our deepest need for repentance. So Jesus does not hesitate to join the crowd of repentant sinners at the River Jordan. In his baptism by John, Jesus does what God in Christ always does; stands with us, by us, stands for us in times of our greatest need.
The Christian Church has spent a lot of time talking about God’s love for sinners, but we sure do go to a lot of trouble not to be mistaken for one of them. Jesus, however, didn’t seem too concerned about all of that. Jesus was not afraid to be seen with “those kind of people.” He wades into the water with us, in the flesh, in the sorrow, and in the joy of new life.
When we confess our sins in church, we do not simply confess our personal sins—all those things we have done or not done. We also kneel and talk to God about the sins of humankind—all the things that we as God’s creatures have mislead or destroyed or betrayed. We also confess that we have fled from the love of God because we are afraid to be seen and known and perhaps even changed. We might also confess our own need to be in control, asking God to place in us an every more humble heart.
Today is of course one of the church’s primary days for baptism. And in a few moments these parents and godparents will be asked some pretty tough questions on behalf of the children they are presenting to God.
“Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?”
Barbara Brown Taylor, in her sermon on this text reminds us that whenever we welcome new members into the household of God we begin with this baptismal covenant. We say it with them, so we all remember what is expected of us: to believe in God; to take our place at God’s table and grow strong on God’s food; never to give up on ourselves, but always to proclaim the good news that God has come among us in the flesh.”
Today’s lessons also provide a wonderful occasion for celebrating the ministry of all God’s people and particularly the ministry of the laity and your vocation for God’s epiphany in Christ. It is a good time to think about the work of the Holy Spirit in your life, and whether you are utilizing the spiritual gifts that God has given you. As Jesus’ identity as children of God in our baptism is the identity that frames all other identities, it is an opportunity to think about our parenthood, our community service and even our citizenship as venues for the service of Christian love, and for the living out of our baptismal promises.
Martin Luther said that we should begin each day by making the sign of the cross and remembering our baptism. It might set the tone for the whole day. And then, when we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, Abba, Father, we are minded once again that we are among the beloved with whom, because of Jesus, God is well pleased.
Comments? Contact The Rev. Todd Smelser: tsmelser@stphilipscathedral.org