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Baptism of the Lord (a)

Today is Baptism of the Lord Sunday and on this Sunday not only do we think about the Lord’s baptism, but we also remember our own. Baptism is a total connection--we are connected to God and God to us. So we celebrate God’s presence upon the waters at the Jordan and at the font. In Isaiah we read of "new things," in the psalm for this day, God reigns as king over the floodwaters; in Acts, God’s "newness of life" that comes to the Gentiles is marked by baptism, and in the gospel lesson Jesus becomes the Exemplar for all who will follow after him.

PSALM 29—GOD OF THE STORM, GOD OF THE WHALE

The divine counsel has gathered in God’s presence and been ordered to ascribe honor, glory, and strength to the God of Israel. It is Israel’s God, not Baal--for whom this psalm was most probably composed--that thunders forth in hurricane-force decibels and showers rain downward to the earth and shatters the trees. Such response to such awe-inspiring spectacles is to pray that God will give strength to the faithful and bless them with peace (v. 11).

ISAIAH 42:1-9—THE PURPOSE-DRIVEN NATION

God is in control and has always been in control--even when the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem in 581 bce. For the God who created the heavens and stretched them out across the universe, has a larger agenda than a single culture’s survival. Thus Isaiah 42 alludes to God’s larger purpose embedded within the exilic community and in the humiliation of defeat. God will use Israelites as a beacon light "to guide all the nations to me" (v. 6 tev).

ACTS 10:34-43—THE WELCOME MAT OFFERED TO ALL

Peter, dumbstruck by God’s wholly surprising purpose in breaking down barriers that keep people from being welcomed to the Reign of God, utters one of the most revelatory and astonishing lines of this lesson: I see very clearly that God doesn’t show partiality." Peter’s sermon to Cornelius’ household which follows, welcomes Gentiles to the community of God through baptism.

MATTHEW 3:13-17—BAPTISM OF THE LORD

In the gospel lesson we’re attending a baptism. We’ve been to those before so we’re familiar with the general performance of the rite. Yet, we have Jesus as the baptismal candidate who stands at the River Jordan--a willing candidate for baptism. Matthew, however, focuses not on the baptism; he rather is intrigued with John’s protest to Jesus’ request--I am the one who needs to be baptized by you," John says. Jesus assures John that his interest in doing what makes for righteousness makes this baptism appropriate. The rest of the lesson is picked up by others in the synoptic--the heavenly voice signifying that This is my beloved Son, and I am fully pleased with him (v. 17).