Sermon: The Baptism of Christ

Preacher:

Date:

Sunday 13th January 2013

Service:

Eucharist

Readings:

Isaiah 43: 1-7

Luke 3:15-7, 21-22

It’s a very unflattering photo.  A little girl stands scowling into the camera; with a Cadbury cream egg in each hand.  It must be Easter, because in 1979 eggs couldn’t be purchased all year round.  The chocolate is perhaps a gift to encourage a smile.  Or the only way the Vicar’s mother could find of assuring the older sibling that she was part of the family; part of the church; called by name.  Just like the baby, my sister, who was being baptised that day. 

It’s not a flattering image of me; sulking isn’t a flattering attitude to adopt.  But it is human.  Perhaps one of the greatest fears is that we aren’t loved; or that perhaps there isn’t enough love to go round.   Sibling dynamics, social gatherings and life within the Church reveal both the longing to be included; but see the inclusion of others as rebuff.  We are called to an alternative lifestyle.

At the heart of the Christian faith is the conviction God’s grace is unconditional, his love abundant.   As we sometimes sing, there is a wideness in God’s mercy that embraces us all.  He calls each one of us by name.  Yet we apply false limits of our own to that love and grace and mercy.  We long to be included, forgiven, redeemed; but we baulk at the expansiveness of that call. 

But generous grace is the point of God’s Kingdom: there is a relationship between God and the individual; between God and all people.  The former reveals hopefulness about the latter.  To be part of the people of God is to be part of that movement from the personal and particular, to the universal and radically inclusive.  To be part of that movement means being formed in worship and deeply involved in the life of the world.

The words of Isaiah speak of the nature of God, and our humanity.  We are created, formed, redeemed, called; we are precious, honoured and loved; we won’t be overwhelmed or consumed by danger.  The Lord our God is with us.  We are called by name. God is love; we are loved. Therefore we are not to fear.

God gathers up his people from every corner of the earth.  Everyone who is called by his name is created from God’s glory.  It is a profound statement about human dignity before God; and a radical statement about God’s relationship to us.  Despite our human capacity to sulk, behave selfishly or get things wrong, God remains faithful.

Therein lies our hope.  Therein lies a promise.  God’s anointed one, the Messiah, would come.  This longing for freedom and redemption intensified at times of occupation or exile.  Hopes for a peaceable kingdom were tinged with assumptions about military might.  John’s task was to focus the tide of expectation. 

He called people to repentance; his baptism with water called them to prepare their hearts, minds and lives for the Messiah.  He responds to their questions by pointing to one who is greater than he. The one who is to come will gather all people to himself; the one who kindles the flame of God’s love and power in us.

And on the crowded, muddy banks of the Jordan, stands Jesus. He stands in the midst of the people; he is baptised; he prays. 

In this prayerful moment of identification with our humanity, the words of his heavenly Father resound:   ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

 

The boy, who returned from Jerusalem and grew in wisdom and grace in an earthly home, is now a man on the brink of public ministry.  His baptism is the culmination of a process of deepening appreciation not only of divine fatherhood, but also of his own vocation. 

In Luke’s narrative, we see Jesus meditate on Scripture and apply it to himself – in the wilderness and in the synagogue he speaks of justice and liberation; he speaks of service not of power.

Jesus is the light to Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel. Jesus, the long awaited Messiah, will call us by name. He is God with us; we need know no fear.  We are called by name; he loves us. 

Jesus ministry reveals that all are precious in God’s sight – the foreigner, the sick, the young, the powerful, the sexually exploited, the frail.  He makes manifest the love of God; he establishes the rule of God.  And he does so by patient self-forgetfulness.    Accomplishing this mission is not a gilded path; it will entail indignity, misunderstanding, rejection and death.

Jesus is tied by kinship to all humanity; his mission is to all people. He identifies himself with us in our movement towards God. Jesus leads people into the Kingdom by standing alongside them and walking with them.  The Church is called to do likewise.

We, who are called by name in our own baptism, are to rejoice that we are precious, loved, created, redeemed. We are called to a life beyond fear.  We, who are called by name, are members of one body, the Church. 

We are to be a people who share in God’s creative, redeeming and sustaining work.  That means taking a generous attitude towards each other – recognising in our differences a gift from God.  It means receiving forgiveness and mercy as a gift – but not seeking to possess it, but to give it to others.

This personal and corporate call is rooted in prayer and worship.  We gather here Sunday by Sunday to meditate upon the Scriptures; in bread and wine, to receive what we are; we become what we receive: the body of Christ. We are gathered together in order to be re-shaped and dispersed in God’s service.  We can only be who we are called to be in the power of the Spirit – facing the challenges, opportunities, our failings and blessings.

Luke’s gospel is infused with the Spirit; which excites praise, prompts insight and cultivates wisdom.  Jesus’ baptism is marked by the descent of the Spirit; his baptism reveals the unity of Father, Son and Spirit in creating, redeeming and sustaining us. 

The Cathedral Church of which we are part is dedicated to the Spirit. That same Spirit calls us to participate in the world; to walk within it.  We are called by name – called to reveal God’s loving kindness in our relationships; called to use our gifts in his service.  There is glorious diversity amongst us; and enormous potential in our respective spheres of activity. 

As individuals we make unique contributions to the particular work of this Cathedral: we are to be a centre of worship and mission in this diocese; we are called to support out bishops in faith and engagement. 

During Lent, we will be exploring what it is to “be the church”. There will be opportunities over the coming weeks to engage more with the objectives endorsed by Chapter, which will enable us to work towards fulfilling our vision and purpose.  Our stewardship and community committees in particular, are focused on the practical implications of our vision; they are using it to shape their work. We have a strategy to help us implement our aspirations for vibrant teaching, responsible use of resources and improved communications.  It includes work with Sunday School and developing the website amongst other things.

All of that is rooted in fostering Christ-like relationships at all levels: not just within the congregation, Chapter, staff team and volunteers, but also across these spheres of activity. We have invested in professional skills to undergird our core activity of worship and welcome; in order that we might be free to look outwards – to the diocese, to the university, to our partners in the world. 

We are all part of one complex body serving one common good.  Cultivating trust and understanding takes time.  It demands an investment of our resources.  For the sake of the Kingdom. We are called by name; there is hope not fear and an abundance of love.

Our mission is that this remains a place of welcome, beauty, engagement and inspiration.

Let us pray that we may grow in maturity and wisdom. May our vision be our prayer – that dedicated to the Holy Spirit, we may foster inclusivity in worship and hospitality, that we may ignite conversations that are generous and transformative; that in seeking the common good, we may build God’s Kingdom.