Christ Episcopal Church
January 11, 2015
The Baptism of Jesus
On Friday afternoon, those of us on the diocesan email list got an message with the subject line "Bucks vs. Ducks: A win-win challenge benefitting Episcopal Relief and Development." Unfortunately, the challenge was announced long after our announcements were printed, the Newsnote was out, and the weekend was at hand. And since we were to have a guest preacher this morning, I was not going to have much chance to talk about the challenge. But since our guest preacher became ill and could not come this morning, this sermon will be about Buck vs. Ducks and the baptism of Jesus. This will be my very first, and hopefully my last, sports themed sermon!
First, let me describe the challenge, because I do commend this challenge to you. With Oregon and Ohio State playing for the national championship tomorrow night, the Bishops in Ohio and Oregon have challenged their dioceses to see which diocese can come up with the most donations to Episcopal Relief and Development. The contest is for the largest number of donations by game time tomorrow, not the largest amount of money raised. If the Ducks should win the game, all the money raised will go to clean water initiatives. If the Buckeyes win, all the money will go to tree planting initiatives. And the real winners will be those who benefit from the generosity of the people in Oregon and Ohio. But just to make the contest a little more fun, if the Buckeyes win, the Bishop of Oregon must wear his new Ohio State jersey, which has already been sent, and the whole diocesan staff must take a photo in the OHIO pose and post it on their diocesan Facebook page. Should the Ducks win, Bishop Tom must wear his brand new Marcus Mariota Oregon jersey and our diocesan staff must sing the Oregon fight song and post a video on our diocesan Facebook page. Instructions on how to pledge were handed out with your service bulletin this morning. If you have Internet access, please go online and pledge early and often. Remember, it's the number of pledges that matter, not the amount. If you do not have Internet access, please write on the form the amount you would like to pledge, mail your check to the Diocesan office, and put the form in the offering plate and we will find people to enter those donations online.
Why is this silly yet serious contest worthy of a sermon? This morning, we watch as Jesus heads to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. Mark's gospel tells us so little about Jesus' baptism that we have to hear the same story about John the Baptist that we heard during Advent in order to get a gospel reading of a respectable length. Mark tells us just three things about Jesus' baptism. Jesus went into the wilderness to be baptized by John the Baptist. The heavens were torn apart and the Spirit descended like a dove. And a voice came from heaven and said "You are my Son, the beloved. With you I am well pleased."
First, Jesus went into the wilderness to be baptized. Then he was driven into the wilderness to be tempted, and then he entered the many wildernesses in which people found themselves in order to bring healing and wholeness. Secondly, In Jesus' baptism, the heavens were torn open and a dove descended as a bit of the kingdom of heaven was made known on earth. The first words of Jesus' ministry are "The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news." Then Jesus sets about making the Kingdom of God, also known as the Kingdom of Heaven, a bit more real on earth. Lastly, Jesus hears the voice of God say "You are my Son, the beloved. With you I am well pleased." Mark doesn't tell us, and I don't believe Jesus knows, exactly what that means. But Jesus trusts that God is present with him and moves through out his ministry assuring others of God's presence with them.
Jesus' baptism propelled him into the world to not just to proclaim the Kingdom of God, but to make that Kingdom real and present. Baptism, both Jesus' baptism and our own baptism, is not just about us and God. Baptism certainly connects us to God eternally, but baptism also sends us out into the world to make the Kingdom real and present in concrete ways to all of humankind. Baptism sends us into the wilderness where people do not have clean water, or food, or ways to protect themselves from sickness or disease. Baptism sends us out to show people with our lives that heaven has broken through to earth. Baptism sends us out to tell people that they are beloved of God, no matter their circumstances or what they may or may not have done.
There are many reasons why people reach out to those in need. For Christians, we act because our baptism propels us from this place to make the Kingdom of God more fully present here and around the world. So, we cook for Interfaith Hospitality Network, and serve at the Rainbow Table. We engage with our neighborhood, and provide food at our Food Pantry. We help out at Shawnee Place, host a Neighborhood Fair and concern ourselves with people who do not have clean water half a world a way, because we are called in baptism to enter the wilderness, and to make the Kingdom of God known with our words and our actions. Just like Jesus.
Amen.
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