 St Alban’s Episcopal Church Bolivar, Missouri Wednesday, January 11, 2023 The Baptism of Jesus |
| The Collect Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (This would have been the gathering prayer if we had celebrate the first Sunday after the Epiphany last Sunday. But we didn’t. Roman Catholics and others, in my view wisely, celebrate the great feasts of Epiphany on the Sunday not during the weekday when so few people would even be able to participate. And so we did it that way. The feast of the Epiphany leads to all these other “revelations” which we will read in the weeks leading up to Lent. skipping it makes no sense to me!)  The Baptism of Jesus The lectionary stories aren’t really in good “story” order! The wise men depart, Jesus and his parents go down into Egypt and suddenly, Jesus is 30 years old and about to start his ministry. It is odd. But that’s because during Epiphany, we are looking at other “revelations” – other ways in which Jesus was “revealed” or “unveiled” as Lord. We saw that he was recognized by the Magi/wise men/kings as “the king of the Jews”, whose star had arisen – which they followed. We know that Herod took that apparent threat to his earthly throne seriously enough to try to kill the infant. At his baptism, we see Jesus revealed yet again – as the “Beloved” in whom God is “well pleased.” He does not need to be baptized, symbol of Jewish conversion to God – as John is calling the ordinary people to do – and yet, as part of the people of God – as one of them – he elects to be baptized anyway. Matthew 3:13-17 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented.And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” |  The Baptism by Dan Rocha I am the one who walks before The One who comes to save us. With heaven shining down, my feet planted in the cool Jordan River; The voice in the wilderness calling for repentance, for preparation. “Get ready, for the King is in our midst!” I see his shadow on the hill. I feel his presence in my bones. Who am I that my Lord should come to me? I am your servant – John. I am the water flowing down Upon the Lord of Glory. From heaven I have fallen, lighting gently on the slopes of Hermon. I took my rest in the Galilee, where fishes swim and children play. And now I swirl around the feet of John – Now streaming Down the face of Jesus. Are these my tears, or his? Who am I, that my Lord should come to me? I am the waters of your baptism. I am the only Son of God Come to redeem creation. From heaven have I come, with a stirring in my heart I can’t deny. I have wandered to this river. I have heard the people cry for help. So, now I stand with John the Baptizer -Water mixing with my tears. Afraid, yet Courage flows within. Who am I that this call should come to me? I am the Creator. I am the Redeemer. I am the dove who, from above Looked down upon the Jordan. ‘Round heaven do I fly. And yet I am drawn to the earth below me. What is the Breeze that takes my flight? What breath has quickened my very soul? Down I plunge to light within the Savior! My breath becomes our breath, and I am lost within my calling. Who am I, that my Lord would use me so? I am the creature, and I am redeemed. * Most of you know Dan, who is now a regular at St Alban’s. Last Sunday he and his sister, Cheryl Brown Rash, also a regular with us, realized that we would all be tired after the Saturday ordinations, and made after-Church coffee hour treats for everyone – including key lime pie! But I did not know he was a poet as well. Now I do, and so do you. Plenty to think about in this  |
No responses yet