Baptism – His and ours

Less than two weeks ago, we were remembering Jesus’ birth.  Jesus has matured rapidly these past twelve days – Christmastide ended this past Friday.  Now we’re hearing about our Lord’s baptism and launch of his ministry as an adult as we enter this season of Epiphany, which lasts for a little less than two months. These next seven weeks are jam-packed with essential lessons that help us renew our faith and Christian commitments.

Epiphany is a season for us to focus on the manifested identity of Jesus as the Son, our Lord, Christ.  For these next seven weeks, in the Gospel lessons, almost exclusively from writings attributed to Mark, we’re going to be reminded of Jesus’s divine identity and the essence of his mission and ministry, including:

• -       his Spirit-filled baptism;
• -       calling of his disciples;
• -       teaching and preaching;
• -       casting out of demons;
• -       and redemptive/restorative acts of healing. 

Our Epiphany season Gospel readings will conclude with our Lord’s transfiguration on a mountain alongside appearances of Elijah and Moses.  And these are just the Gospel lessons!

Also in Epiphany this year, through other lectionary readings, we’re reminded of:

• -       God’s calling of Samuel (“here I am…your servant is listening”)  [1 Sam 3:1-20]
• -       The sending of Jonah to call Nineveh to repentance [Jonah 3:1-10]
• -       That we are to be exemplars, not stumbling blocks, for others seeking Christ [1 Cor 8:1-13]
• -       That we are servants of Christ sent to meet people where they are to share the Good News [1 Cor 9:16-23; 2 Cor 4:3-6]

Essentially, this season will be a crash course in what it means to be a follower of Jesus and an evangelist of Christ. 

Today is known in our church calendar as the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord.  It’s one of the Sundays during which we traditionally initiate new members into our church family through baptism.  Although I’ve been told that we’re not actually baptizing anyone here this morning, it’s nonetheless an opportunity for us to renew our baptismal beliefs and promises.  After this sermon, we will, together, new renew aloud the vows of our Baptismal Covenant.

Today’s lessons speak to us about the power of baptism in Christ’s name with water and the Holy Spirit.  The reading from Genesis (Gen 1:1-15) speaks to us about order, light, and life being called out of dark, primordial waters by the breath/wind/spirit of God.  The Psalmist (Psalm 29) tells us that the voice of God over the waters invokes creation with blessings of peace and strength.  In the Epistle (Acts 19:1-7), Paul calls us to participate with the power of the Holy Spirit through baptism in Jesus’s name.  In the Gospel (Mark 1:4-11), we hear of how Jesus, once again in solidarity with us, participates with a community of believers in the symbolic act of repentance under John’s hands in the waters of the Jordan River and is then explicitly connected with God as the Beloved through the Holy Spirit – bringing us all into a transformed relationship.

Now, let’s engage in some conversation about what baptism means to us today in order that we re-commission ourselves to more faithful work and witness as baptized Christians.

Baptism.  What is it?  The rite of Holy Baptism is one of the two ‘dominical’ (instituted by our Lord) sacraments given by Christ to his Church (the other being Holy Eucharist).  Let’s use some of the words in our Book of Common Prayer to stimulate some discussion about baptism.

First, turn to page 858 and take a moment to read the questions and answers about Holy Baptism in our Catechism.

Q: What jumps out at you from what you read here?

• -       outward sign of water (more on this later)
• -       ‘adopted’ as God’s children and made members of Christ’s body (with all benefits),
• -       united with Christ in both death and resurrection, being forgiven and granted new life,
• -       we’re required to renounce bad stuff, repent, and accept new responsibilities

Now turn with me to pages 306-307 and read what is said during the “Thanksgiving over the Water.”

Q: What speaks to you the most in this thanksgiving over the Water?

• -       From the beginning of creation (and we’re created in a watery womb)
• -       Passage through from bondage to liberation, from desert into promised land
• -       In it we are also buried (death to old ways)
• -       We are cleansed, resurrected, born anew

Q: How many of you have been baptized?  How many of you remember your baptism?  (invite sharing about what this has meant – the decision and the ongoing influence of this commitment)

(anecdote about my baptism as an adult a little over ten years ago – decision & life-changing implications)

at Jordan River with Bishop of Los Angeles preparing for renewal of Baptismal Covenant (June 2010)

Together, we’re about to say aloud our vows of the Baptismal Covenant.  You can turn to page 304 of the BCP or follow along in your bulletin.  As we do this together, notice that we’re doing two things together – essentially affirming what we agree that we believe in (through the words of the Apostle’s Creed) AND what we promise to do as a result of belief.  

This isn’t just a recitation of what we accept intellectually – it’s an affirmation of where we place our trust, confirmation of the roots of our faith, and declaration of our commitments to live and love together as followers of Jesus and evangelists of Christ’s Good News. 

If you’ve not yet been baptized, listen carefully to what is said and consider the life one is invited into through baptism:

o   Teaching, fellowship, “breaking of bread”

§  Some of which we do together every Sunday...

o   Renounce evil and continually repent (renew/realign)

§  What do you need to renounce in your life today?

§  What does it look and sound like for you to repent?

o   Offer witness with both our words and actions

§  Episcopal evangelism (oxymoron?)

o   Serve Christ by living into the second of the greatest commandments

§  One of the hardest of all, if we really take it seriously

o   Strive for justice, peace, and dignity for ALL

§  More than just a state of mind or matter of perspective, it means putting ourselves on the line to defend, protect, and advocate

This week, and going forward through this Epiphany season, let’s review, pray about, and discuss these vows that we’ve made with each other as we’ve joined together in the body of Christ through Holy Baptism.  


Why Holy Baptism?  What difference does it make in your life and our communal life together in Christ’s name?  How do people outside these walls experience us as baptized Christians – what are we doing to live into our covenant?

We’re told that “the bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble” (BCP rubrics, p. 298).  If you’ve not yet been baptized, but yearn for lasting bonds in Christ’s family, consider today the open invitation to join us through this holy rite. 

God is forever faithful and merciful to us through Christ and the Holy Spirit.  Let our lives be an example of how we’re faithful to God and our neighbors in like manner.

(BCP, p. 306) Grant, O Lord, that all who are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ your Son may live in the power of his resurrection and look for him to come again in glory; who lives and reigns now and forever.

at Jordan River with pilgrims from Diocese of Los Angeles celebrating renewal of our Baptismal Covenant (June 2010)

AMEN