In this season of Epiphany we look for the miracle – the sign that attests to the glory of God revealed in Jesus Christ. That “attesting miracle” – sign – in this week’s story may be the voice from heaven, but do not lose sight of the earlier epiphany – the manifestation of God’s glory in the ordinary human action of Jesus.
Once I was talking with Dorothy Nicholl, who was active in Cheshire Homes for the disabled and with the “Co-workers of Mother Theresa” in her parish in Santa Cruz. We were talking about the handicapped accessibility of the city buses – how much that cost.
It would be a lot cheaper, I observed, to send out specially equipped vans to give them rides. “But then they wouldn’t be just like anybody else!” she protested. And I riposted – “But they aren’t just like anybody else!” Sure enough the special equipment was for them.
By the way you can find yourself one of “them” on short notice – just have surgery or an illness.
Of course I missed her point. People who need provision for handicapped access are, granted, materially different, but they are not morally different. They are of equal, equally infinite, value.
Just like “the rest of us” a person using provisions for physical disabilities is a person of infinite value to God – a person beloved of God, with whom God is well pleased.
Jesus lined up, just like anybody else, and was baptized, just like anybody else. He did not take special favors (“I’m his cousin, you know”) or cuts in line.
Just like anybody else he went up there and got his soul prepared, for the coming of the reign of God.
That is what baptism is about – a turning point, a turning homeward to God. It involves a ritual cleansing, a sacred bath, a washing clean, and a fresh start.
Then it involves coming up out of that water, taking those first steps, making a new beginning, and accepting the gift of grace that is God’s to give.
Jesus did all this, Jesus the Human One, the Son of Man, because it was the right thing to do, the human thing to do – because he was like us, just like anybody else…
He was willing to be obedient and submit to God’s ultimate authority, receive God’s ultimate grace, and accept God’s ultimate love – and then to go forward, act it out, and live that grace and love in his every move.
Every step he took from that day forward was a step closer to the kingdom of heaven.
Of course he was just like us – only without sin. That one baptism was enough – more than enough – for him... For us we need some ritual, some rite of cleansing, of forgiveness, and acceptance, of new allegiance to God’s grace and glory, more than once. Every day perhaps brings more challenges, some of which we are not adequate to meet on our own power – so we have our ways of renewing our baptismal vows.
In high school I went with my friends to a lot of fundamentalist church gatherings – revivals, coffee houses, Billy Graham movies – and there was always an opportunity to make that one initial commitment to Jesus Christ, that first step, that decision made to follow Jesus.
But what if you had already done it – but needed to further express your faith and your need of grace? What could you do?
You could only walk the sawdust trail so many times (once) before it felt silly.
So you need a way to renew your commitment. We offer two today – and more.
You can always, at any moment, “repent and return to the Lord” – that is, like the Prodigal Son, come to yourself, realize that what you are doing is no way to be living, and return to the loving arms of your heavenly Father. You can and should do that any time you feel the need –
(If the feeling comes on you while you are in traffic abide by all relevant laws – but go ahead and talk to God, let that burden down, and get a fresh start – get renewed – in Christ.)
This morning we have a couple of ways together to renew and remember.
There will be in place of the creed, the reaffirmation of baptismal vows – renewing our commitment to Jesus Christ and re-enlisting our selves (as it were) in his cause.
And, as the service continues, after the general confession we can approach the table together – the table where everybody is welcome – and in the Eucharist re-commit ourselves to God and receive anew God’s gift of grace for us.
For before we were born God knew us, knew he had made us well and for his purpose – and as his Son came out of the waters, he knows us as his own.
Through Christ and with Christ and in Christ we can know these words of welcome – you are my child, with you I am well pleased – apply to us too.
We can receive the gift of becoming God’s children with whom, in the fullness of his grace, God is well pleased.
It is not by our doing – it is through Christ, this one in whose name we are baptized; this one who, just like anybody else, received the baptism of John - and the one who comes to us now, under the form of bread and wine, water and oil; under the form of ordinary human endeavor; bringing us the gift of his presence with us.
And by this ordinary means – by water and the word, by bread and wine, working together – he brings us the gift of newness of life.
God says to us, as David Adam put it in a prayer, God says to us this:
Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you:
I have called you by your name; you are mine.
Lord, you have called us; may we rejoice in your love and saving power, and proclaim your presence and glory in the world.
Protect us from evil; lead us into ways of peace: that we may serve you & rejoice in you.
We thank you, heavenly Father, that you call us to know your grace and put our deepest confidence in you. Increase our knowledge of your grace and confirm this faith in us forever. Pour out your Holy Spirit on all of us as we renew our vows, that being people born anew in Christ, and made heirs of everlasting salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, we may continue to serve you and receive the gifts of your promise.
Bring us at last into your kingdom and your gracious presence, without fault or fear, but rejoicing in newness of life.
Through Jesus Christ, compassion incarnate, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, everlasting Father of mercy, and with the Spirit of holiness and truth. Amen.
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Put on Christ and walk in the light. Follow the example of our Savior. Be made like him.
As he died and rose again for us, so being baptized, be dead to sin and alive to righteousness, daily proceeding in all virtue and godliness of living.
And the peace of the Lord be always with you.
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Lord our God, who anointed your Son with the Spirit at the river Jordan, and so hallowed the waters of new birth to bring us forth to salvation: keep us strong in the life of grace, direct the ways of your people, and open the door of your kingdom to all who stand upon the threshold of faith.
(Collect for Epiphanytide, in Celebrating Common Prayer, from Common Worship)
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Saint Alban's Episcopal Church, Edmonds, WA
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Sources and Resources
The Book of Common Prayer (1662, UK)
David Adam
Barbara Crafton
Dorothy Nicholl
Herbert O'Driscoll
Jeff Tobin
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