Sometimes the lectionary and the Church calendar are funny things. What I really like about them is that they both force us to reconsider what we think we already know. For example, most people think that the 12 days of Christmas are the days that lead up to Christmas Day and that the Christmas Season runs from December 1st through the 25th. But that is not so. In fact, Christmas Day is just the beginning of the season and the 12th day does not hit until January 6th. What I really like about both of these handmaidens to the church is that they require discipline from us. Many times they slow us down and make us contemplate things that we don't always want to think about.
This year is kind of a funny year. We celebrated Epiphany a little bit early for my taste. Epiphany does not fall until Friday, January 6th, and yet we had to move the date up in order for the other Holy Days to fall into place. So this Sunday, we celebrate the Lord's baptism in the River Jordan. This day is rather peculiar in some ways. Many "why" statements emerge from the shadows as we contemplate what was going on when Jesus was baptized by John. Questions like "Why was Jesus baptized if he was sinless?" and "Why did God do what he did at the baptism?" sometimes confound us and make us want to simply skip over this event and move forward into the ministry of Jesus.
But there is a reason this story is included in the gospels. It's not there for dramatic flair. It's there to help us see the broader picture of who Jesus is, where he came from, and where he was going. Hear these words from St. Mark:
"In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." (1:9-11)
| Icon of the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan |
In these few words, volumes are spoken. Jesus' baptism is a baptism into service. It is a baptism of recognition. It is a baptism of unification. When Jesus the Christ agrees to John's baptism it is as a servant of the most High God. It is his leaving behind his old way of living life and beginning a new vocation down the path that God the Father has ordained for him. When Jesus is baptized it becomes clear that he is the one chosen by God for something unique and special. All of the preparation that had been poured into this man was now coming to a time of fruition. All of the prophecies were about to come true. Since the beginning of the creation, the world had been holding its breath, waiting for this anointed one from God. And now the time was right.
Jesus baptism points towards who we are through our own baptism. When Jesus Christ gave us this sacrament of cleansing, he did so as a fulfillment of something he had already done. When we are baptized with fire and water we can no longer be who we used to be. We too must leave behind our old way of living life and set out on the new path. We too must begin our vocation of service. Jesus lived the life of a true human, the one Son from the Father. His baptism points towards our own. Without his baptism, ours is worthless.
This coming Sunday is a wondrous, grace-filled day when we celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ. It is a time in the calendar and in our lectionary readings that continues to point us towards the fullness of the ministry from our Lord and Savior. It is a time where we set out anew and ready to fully engage ministry on God’s terms.
In a song we will sing this Sunday, the final verse states this, “Come, Holy Spirit, aid us to keep the vows we make; this very day invade us, and every bondage break. Come, give our lives direction, the gift we covet most: to share the resurrection that leads to Pentecost.”
Until next time…
+May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you.—Amen
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