Baptism of Jesus, The Beloved Son

This Is My Beloved Son In whom I am Well Pleased
A Reflection for The Baptism Of Christ/First Sunday After Epiphany
By Rev. Robert Johnnene OFA
Mission Saints Sergius and Bacchus
Holliston, MA
www.missionstsergius.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/EverlastingLoveOfChristMinistry

“Console my people, console them, says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1) These are the opening words of one of the first Readings for this feast celebrating the Baptism of Christ. The Reading for this feast whether it is celebrated Sunday January 7th as in the Roman church or on January 13th as in many Eastern and other churches, are words that shout clearly Almighty God’s desire for all people.
In all the readings assigned for this day there is found words of affirmation, comfort and a clear truth that all should embrace. The truth, Jesus Christ is the Son of God made man, He is the Messiah promised to all the prophets. Jesus came to bring us the truth and to be the light that would lead us to the father. In Luke 3:15 - 22 we hear John The Baptist proclaim; “someone who is more powerful than I am, and who I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals will come; he will Baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. Now when all the people had been Baptized, and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my flavor rests on you’.
In John 1:29-34 we find further affirmation of the event as John the disciple was an observer of the event and recorded it in His Gospel “ The next day when John was Baptizing by the Jordan River and He saw Jesus coming toward him he exclaimed “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I told you about when I said, "Someone else will come. He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born." I didn't know who he was. But I came to baptize you with water, so that everyone in Israel would see him.” The passage goes on to tell us what happened after Christ was baptized with water; “I was there and saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven. And the Spirit stayed on him. Before this I didn't know who he was. But the one who sent me to baptize with water had told me, "You will see the Spirit come down and stay on someone. Then you will know that he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit. I saw this happen, and I tell you that he is the Son of God.”Another reading assigned to this feast, from Titus 2:11 and 3:7, provides us with even more of God’s truth and another reason for us to not only be thankful to Almighty God but to have hope. “You see, God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the Appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus. But when the kindness and love of God our savior for mankind were revealed, it was not because he was concerned with any righteous actions we might have done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own compassion that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and by renewing us with the Holy Spirit which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our Savior. He did this so that we should be justified by his grace, to become heirs looking forward to inheriting eternal life”.
I personally do not know how things could be made any clearer to us. When we read these words of the readings for the Feast of The Baptism Of Christ and couple them with the teachings Christ gave us with his words and actions how can we possibly claim to be followers of Christ is we continue to discriminate against others, allow people to go hungry while others luxuriate in excesses? How can we justify the taking of another person’s life in the name of justice? How, as Christians can we take upon ourselves the rite to question why God creates people differently? How can we accept the old rule of “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”, when Christ said: “Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.”If we are to actually live our lives as followers of Christ, and we acclaim Jesus as our Redeemer and our Savior we need to begin to set aside the petty differences that have caused the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic church to be divided into many segments and look to the basic truths of Christ as the glue that should bind us and hold us together. In the early church priests were married, Commitments between same sex individuals were blessed, There were women deacons, Bishops, priests lived simple lives and used simple vessels to celebrate the Eucharist and did not wear jeweled encrusted clothing but simple home spun clothing.
All the trappings that we have come to associate with the celebration of the liturgies and the vestments worn by the clergy came about when the hierarchy began to consider themselves equal with royalty. They even began to call some PRINCES OF THE CHURCH, a title that is still being used in some circles.
All religious are called and have accepted to be Christ’s servant and instrument here on earth. Our task is to be the instrument through which the compassion and mercy of Almighty God are made known to all people. We should not be driving people away, but trying to bring them home like the shepherd searching for the lost sheep.
On this day which confirms the truth of Christ being the Son of God, the creator and father of all things, let us evaluate ourselves and seek out what changes we need to make in our lives to completely and joyfully truly live as followers of Christ and believers in God. Then let us go forth to turn our decisions into actions that will bring about changes for the betterment of the human race. Let us work hard to bring about the changes that will improve the environment. Let us do our part in ending oppression, hunger, homelessness, discrimination, and division and become an instrument of Almighty God and a true follower of Christ working to bring peace to all God’s children. AMEN