The Baptism of Jesus: 1st Sunday of Epiphany

There at the back of the church, or the beginning depending on your perspective, is the same baptismal fount into which Episcopalians have dipped their fingers and crossed themselves for over 100 years. Perhaps for us Episcopalians, many of whom were baptized as infants, it is especially important to remind ourselves of something we can’t remember.

The baptismal fount in the back also is a reminder of when baptisms were essentially private, family affairs. With the “new” prayer book, the expectation is clear that baptisms are a public celebration that involves the whole community renewing their own vows and commitment to the mission of the Church. Although Isabella Henderson was baptized in Santo Domingo two weeks ago, today we at Christ Church welcome her “into the household of God. Confess the faith of Christ crucified, proclaim his resurrection, and share with us in his eternal priesthood.” (Book of Common Prayer, p.308).

The old baptismal liturgy emphasized that the individual was “regenerate,” reborn from the condition of original sin. In the “new” liturgy, it is stated that we are “reborn by the Holy Spirit.” For many Christians this rebirth is an event which they can pinpoint to a day and even time. For us Episcopals, the rebirth into eternal life is a process of personal growth in faith, hope and love that takes a lifetime. Sometimes those rebirth pangs may be intense. But everytime we dip our fingers and cross ourselves, we remind ourselves of that wonderful rebirth that began so close to our first birth.

At the same time, Baptism for Episcopalians in the 21st century is a call to share in Christ's mission. And the mission of Jesus Christ is to die. And even as we bring the little children to the fountain of rebirth, we hear the Priest say that in the baptismal water we are "buried with Christ in his death." Many new Episcopal churches have founts and pools where adults can be immersed into Christ's mission of sacrificial love.

And so, we find ourselves straddling different sets of poles: the fount and the pool: rebirth and burial: personal growth and common mission. Those two poles are also evident in the baptism that John preached, and the baptism of Jesus. “I baptize you with water, for your repentance.” (Matt. 3:11). So we heard John say during Advent. Many came to John because they knew they had to change their hearts and lives. As they kneeled in the Jordan River, and John poured water on them, they were washed clean of the sin and shame that would keep them from welcoming the one whom John said was coming, and was greater than he. In the Baptism of John, they began the process of growth which in time would strip the shame and fear from their hearts, leaving only joy and gratitude before their Creator.

But is that why Jesus Christ, the Son of God, comes to John to be baptized? John himself couldn’t imagine any other reason to be baptized. So he begs the one whose sandals he is unworthy to carry, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?” To which Jesus replies, “It is seemly that I be baptized now, in order to fulfill my Father’s plan.” Jesus does not need to reborn from a condition of sin. But He needs to be seen being baptized. We Christians know the rest of the story that John couldn’t imagine. We know that Jesus will not cling to special privileges of his divinity. We know that He who was innocent of all wrongdoing will willingly pay the penalty of blasphemy and rebellion. Undergoing the same baptism of repentance, Jesus completely identifies Himself with the sinful human race.

So, if Jesus identifies with us in our sin, will we identify with Him in His mission? We who have passed through the water of Baptism have had the shame stripped from our souls. We need not fear God’s judgment. For when we do our best, the grace of God in Jesus Christ supplies the rest. We need not fear the opposition to the Good News, for we have been buried with Christ his death, and we most certainly will share in his resurrection.

Like those who came to John in the Jordan, we are brought to the waters of Baptism for the rebirth of our deformed souls. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves of how the water of Baptism refreshes our souls, and also renew our hope. Every Sunday, the fount is there to refresh your soul. But as the household of God, we all are called to share in the mission of Jesus Christ, to reveal the depth of God’s love for all his children. Today, I will ask you to renew your commitment to that mission by renewing your baptismal vows. I pray that each of you may find refreshment for your tired souls. I pray that as we are buried with Jesus, so may others find resurrection through us.