As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, John answered all of them by saying, "I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
Neonian Baptistry, Ravenna, Italy
It has been a week, hasn’t it? Two winter storms, earthquakes in Tibet and other places, catastrophic fires in California, and the failure of the Richmond water treatment plant. That’s in addition to whatever might be going on in our personal lives.
Today is the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, when we recall the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. It’s worth noting that to have a baptism, there must be water. In today’s gospel John the Baptizer says that he will baptize with water, but one more powerful is coming to baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Water and fire have been our headlines this week. Earthquakes and winds also. The four elements of nature are water, fire, earth, and air. These elements have caused destruction and tragedy in many lives this week, enough to make us fearful or at the very least, stressed.
Yes, water, fire, earth, and air, when at their worst, are destructive.
Might we acknowledge though, that these four elements are also essential for life? And today, in this place, we do have the precious gift of water,
and we will baptize Andy, and welcome him into the household of God.
Throughout scripture and throughout time we see the power of water. It washed away impurity whenever the Israelites were unclean; it sustained life as Moses struck the rock in the desert when the Israelites were thirsty.
Water flows through the scriptures from the first chapter of Genesis to the last chapter of Revelation.
In Genesis 1:2 - “In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.”
In Isaiah 43 - When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you.
In Psalm 29 - The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.
In Revelation 22:1 - “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
through the middle of the street of the city.”
As we were unexpectedly reminded this week, water is useful for washing, for making things clean. Water is necessary for life, encouraging growth in plants and animals and humans. What better sign for the sacrament of baptism is there than water?
As Jesus enters the water of the Jordan River he is immersed into all of creation, into the depths of humanity, and into our lives and all of our messiness - with us - through every flood and drought, every fire, wind, and earthquake, natural or self-made.
Water is essential for baptism and for life, and yet, God has given us responsibility for the use of water, and indeed, the responsibility for all of our resources. As we live into our baptismal covenant we make use of the God given elements of nature to share and not hoard, to heal and not harm, to sustain and not damage. Putting our vows into action, we reveal God’s presence in a hurting and anxious world.
Through our baptism, we are immersed in waters of grace, filled with the wind of the Spirit, grounded in love, and our hearts are enkindled to follow Jesus.
In California there is unbelievable devastation, and almost everyone I have talked with knows someone, or knows someone who knows someone who is affected by this tragedy. Firefighters are exhausted, and the many who have seen everything they own become ashes are in need of help.
Here in Richmond the lack of water has been frustrating and inconvenient,
and sadly, we know that the water treatment plant is not up to standards. We have work to do.
Both of these events, and all the natural disasters that will follow, rely upon the work of caring people, and resources shared generously to restore health and wholeness to the suffering.
Baptism makes us members of Christ’s Body, the Church; makes us beloved children of God; makes us part of a community which loves and responds with love to the tragedies of life.
To be clear, God is not burning chaff in Los Angeles. It is not a separation of good grain from bad. Every grain of wheat has a husk – we all have a husk, a husk of self-absorption, apathy or greed – making us less fair, less generous, less respectful. God is winnowing us with love. When natural disasters occur, we are called to respond, not judge.
Baptism calls us to follow Jesus in ways that are generous, restorative, humble, and welcoming to all. Water is a reminder of our baptism and a reminder that the holy flows throughout scripture and all of our lives, saturating us with God’s grace.
Steven Charleston, retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska,
member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and spiritual writer, in one of his daily writings this week said something that I find helpful, and so I offer it to you.
“We live in a time of extremes. Extreme weather, extreme events, extreme anxiety.These are forces that we cannot control. Therefore, control is not what we seek.We concentrate instead on keeping our balance. We adapt. We adjust. We remain flexible, riding over the impact as best we can,
staying close to one another, being alert for chances to help.
When reality turns hard, we become like water.”
Title Image: Arian Baptistry, Ravenna, Italy
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