The First Sunday after The Epiphany
January 12, 2025                                                                                    

Isaiah 42:1-9, Psalm 89:1-29, Acts 10:34-38, Luke 3:15-16

 

 

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“Rising from the Waters: Living Our Baptismal Call”

The Very Rev. Kathleen Murray, Rector 

Historic Beckford Parish, Mt. Jackson & Woodstock

This morning, as we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord, we are invited to reflect on a question that has puzzled Christians for generations: why was Jesus baptized?

Baptism, after all, is understood as the beginning of new life in Christ, the washing away of sin, and the doorway to God’s grace. Why, then, would Jesus—whom we believe to be sinless—choose to step into the waters of the Jordan?

The answer lies not in what Jesus needed but in what Jesus offered. By being baptized, Jesus stands in solidarity with us. He embraces our human condition, fully and without reservation. And in doing so, God’s love is revealed in a profoundly public way. The heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and God’s voice echoes: “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” This declaration is not just about Jesus but an invitation to us. Through Jesus, we are reminded of our belovedness—loved not for what we do but for who we are.

Today, this message feels more urgent than ever. We look around and see a world where God’s love seems to be drowned out by voices of division, disaster, and despair. This past year has brought unimaginable devastation: wildfires tearing through the Shenandoah Valley, but nothing like the scenes we’ve seen in the last few days from Southern California in horrific fires fueled by the fierce Santa Ana winds. Santa Ana winds are like nothing you can imagine if you’ve never experienced them. I once stood on Van Nuys Boulevard in the San Fernando Valley, wanting to cross the street. All I could do was wrap myself around a light fixture as I was literally swept off the ground.

It’s despicable when such tragedy is politicized by those who have never felt the searing heat of the flames, smelled the death of wildlife, or gripped a fire hose in their lives. Those communities need not debate but the reassurance of solidarity—the kind Jesus offers in his baptism.

And that solidarity is at the heart of our shared life as a church. As we approach our annual meeting, we’re reminded that the church isn’t just a building or a collection of committees; it’s the Body of Christ, baptized and called together to bear witness to God’s love in the world. This isn’t just about reviewing reports or setting budgets. It’s about remembering that our shared ministry begins in baptism. Those waters don’t just wash over us once and leave us unchanged—they flow through our lives, shaping us into a community of hope and healing.

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the challenges before us—wildfires, economic uncertainty, even the day-to-day realities of being a church in today’s world. But baptism reminds us that despair does not have the final word. The voice that spoke at Jesus’ baptism is the same voice that speaks to us, saying, “You are my beloved.” And that love, breathed into us by the Holy Spirit, compels us to love others in turn.

This past year, we’ve seen glimpses of what that love looks like in action: feeding the hungry, comforting the grieving, and standing with those who’ve lost everything to floods. These acts of love are not just nice things we do—they are the work of God’s kingdom in the world.

I have been asked about the needs of Southern California. And you all know I’m a big proponent of Episcopal Relief and Development. I will find out more in the coming weeks, but a school and church in Altadena, California, was completely lost—Saint Mark’s Church and School. Mother Betsy Hooper, a dear friend of Mother Mitties, was their chaplain until she retired last fall. Saint Mark’s may be a place where we can have a very direct impact on rebuilding. Saint Mark’s tragedy calls us to reflect on how we, as a community, can embody the love and solidarity central to our baptismal promise.

So, as we prepare for our meeting and look toward the year ahead, let us ground ourselves in the promise of our baptism. Let us listen again for the voice of God, reminding us that we are beloved. And let us commit ourselves anew to being that voice of love and solidarity for a world so desperately needing to hear it.

And remember: whether we face the raging waters of the Jordan or the relentless winds of the Santa Anas, we do not face them alone. God’s love is with us, flowing through us and calling us forward. Together, let us rise from the waters, renewed and ready to proclaim, in word and deed, that we are beloved—and so is the world. Amen.