Baptized For A Purpose

Texts:Isaiah 42:1 – 9 & Matthew 3:11 – 4:1

This is the First Sunday after Epiphany, which was celebrated January 6th. According to the church calendar, today we celebrate the baptism of Christ. In western Christianity, Epiphany is predominately the celebration of the visitation of the Magi while in eastern Christianity the focus of Epiphany is on the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan.

The visitation of the Magi to Jesus and the baptism of Jesus are events that speak to the divine nature of Jesus as Christ. The birth of Christ – the incarnation – we celebrate at Christmas. The miracle of the divinity of the physical Jesus we celebrate at Epiphany.

The Magi, following astronomical signs and bearing gifts, declared Jesus to be the infant king. According to the Gospel of Matthew "they were overwhelmed with joy," “knelt down and paid him homage,” and “offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

The baptism of Jesus declares him to be the Christ in different ways. First, John the Baptist in a private conversation with Jesus says, “I need to be baptized by you.” Then, after John consents to baptize Jesus, the heavens were opened, the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and a voice from heaven declared, “This is my Son, the Beloved.”

Jesus – infant king, adult messiah. Jesus – hope for a nation whose people are held captive by tyranny. Jesus – bringer of wholeness and health. Jesus – the messiah foretold according to the apostles of the new covenant. Jesus – outspoken, dedicated, and a little bit crazy. He did, after all, push those in power until they killed him.

Friends, we need Jesus today as much as they needed him a couple of thousand years ago. We need a Messiah today. Our world is in tatters. The more I read history and the more I read current events, the more everything sounds the same to me. That's not to say that good things haven't been accomplished or that bad things haven't been addressed and overcome, but it seems that evil has so many venues and so much energy. And all too often evil, in its psychosis, actually believes it is good. And too often good is apologetic or weakened by evil’s manipulative rhetoric.

We need a Messiah who will not break a bruised reed. We need a Messiah who will faithfully bring forth justice. We need a Messiah who will not grow faint or be crushed. It breaks my heart that Jesus, the Messiah that we celebrate as Christians, is co-opted by the very systems and people that lead this nation deeper into violence against the helpless, the redistribution of wealth to the wealthy, and the removal of basic human rights to the other.

It also breaks my heart that yesterday, Saturday, January 8, 2011, Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head at one of her 'Congress on Your Corner' events. At the time of this writing, she is in critical condition. So far, six have died in this shooting spree and at least a dozen were injured.

In our Isaiah reading the prophet declares that there is a servant who is chosen and who will faithfully bring forth justice. Then the prophetic word turns toward those who were gathered saying, “I have called you in righteousness. I have given you as a covenant to the people, a light to the nations.”

In trying to make sense of the tragedies going on in our world, and in particular thinking about this shooting in Arizona, I cry out to God and say, “Where is our Messiah?” The answer I get is, “Look in the mirror.”

The mantle has been passed. The Holy Spirit has been given. According to our faith tradition, long ago the power of God was passed down to us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. It seems to me that we humans are easily corrupted by power, even or maybe especially holy power. Rev. Anne Howard, an Episcopal priest and colleague reminded me through Facebook that, “In the first and second centuries, history records, Christians were known for their love.” How quickly Christianity became Christendom and the power of love was exchanged for the power of control.

As we celebrate the divine nature of Jesus and consider the role that baptism played in revealing Jesus as Christ, I think we have to consider our own baptism and our own calling. We must continue the ministry of Jesus in this world, offering hope and love through our actions of faith. We grieve when madmen open fire on gathered communities, we call for justice and participate in actions toward making that justice vision a reality, and we look for ways to love and participate in healing and wholeness.

Our baptism, although a one-time event, is like a river flowing within us. The current of this river always flows toward Christ. Jesus – bringer of wholeness and health. Jesus – outspoken, dedicated, and a little bit crazy. This river is not always tame and safe. Sometimes it is wild with white water rapids and hairpin turns. But this is the river that flows toward the reign of heaven on earth.

As hard as it is to love – or to even think of love – at a time like this when anger and grief are appropriate emotions, love is what will make the difference. Where do we direct this love? What shape will this love take? Does it matter? So long as we dedicate ourselves to outspoken love – the kind of love that promotes healing and wholeness – it doesn't really matter. Love is needed everywhere, especially during times of crisis.

The world needs us to function in the ministry of the Messiah. There is no gift to small to make a difference. Every act of compassion, every time we speak out on behalf of someone who is silenced, and every tear and laugh that we share, especially during the white water rapids and hairpin turns, is an act of faith following the call of our baptism. Too long has the power of the Holy Spirit been co-opted for controlling others rather than for loving others. When we call forth from within us the power of our baptism and remember it is to Jesus that we have been set apart, then we can stand up to violence and its consequences. We can name the hate and manipulation without getting caught up in it ourselves. Once again we Christians can be known for our love.