I will with God's Help

Baptism of Christ, Daniel Bonnell

Epiphany 1A 
January 12, 2014

In case you missed it, today our focus is on baptism.   It’s addressed throughout the readings, and we ourselves will renew our baptismal covenant shortly.   The Baptism of the Lord which we celebrate today is one of the three “epiphanies” or revealings we celebrate during the season of Epiphany.  Like the arrival of the Magi and Christ’s first public miracle at the wedding in Cana, the Baptism of our Lord reveals something to us about Christ, about our relationship with God, and our response to that relationship.

We should know that the story of the Baptism of the Lord is important.  It’s one of the few stories that is contained in all four Gospels, which few stories are.  When a story is repeated by each of the Gospel writers, they all concurred that it was important.  Their telling of the story may be different, but we should take note.

Today we hear Matthew’s account of Christ’s baptism.  In this brief reading, Matthew includes all three persons of the Trinity.  Jesus, God the son is coming up out of the water.  He sees God the Spirit descending.   And he hears a voice from heaven, God the Father, saying this is my Son, the beloved. Three different persons.  One God. All present at this baptism.  Not unlike ours. 

Later we’ll reaffirm our baptismal covenant, which has two parts.  In the first, we are asked some questions about what we believe.  Do you believe in God the Father?  Do you believe in Jesus Christ the Son of God?  Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?    Three different persons.  One God.  All present at our baptism.  Not unlike Christ. 

Our responses to those questions of faith contain the words we repeat every week in the Creed.  

I believe in God the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ his only son.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the communion of saints.

Because we say these words every week, it could seem like just a repackaging of our weekly liturgy.  Routine.  Something that causes us to glaze over and stop thinking about what we’re doing and saying, both every Sunday, and today when we reaffirm our baptismal covenant.

But what if we could think about it the other way around? Not about the routineness of saying the words every week making today’s reaffirmation routine, but rather the words today making every week special? Our baptismal covenant is really unique and special and weighty and important.  What we’re asked and how we respond are the foundation of our covenant with God.   Baptism is where a bond is created between us and God, a bond that is indissoluble. When you say the Creed every week, realize that those words repeat the responses which establish that covenant. 

When you say those words today and every time you reaffirm your vows, think about that indissoluble bond made with God at baptism. 

When you say those words next week and the week after in the Creed, think about that same indissoluble bond made with God at baptism. 

Matthew’s account of the Lord’s baptism includes a dialogue between Jesus and John.  Jesus comes to be baptized by John.  John protests, and Jesus responds that his baptism done in this way is necessary.  It’s necessary because it will fulfill all righteousness. Fulfilling all righteousness is an odd term, one we wouldn’t use in every day conversation.  Righteousness means more than just saying the right things or believing the right things.  Righteousness actually means acting in accord with divine law.  To fulfill all righteousness means to carry out acting in accord with law.   Carry out.  Acting in. The Baptism of our Lord is all about a response and action.   Just like ours.     

Our baptismal covenant goes beyond accepting a set of statements, or believing the right things, or even accepting Jesus Christ as our personal lord and savior.  Sure, that’s the foundation, but we don’t stop there. 

The part of our baptismal covenant which follows the creedal statements is nothing less than a full menu of ways we are each asked to act or respond.  To teach, be in fellowship, to break bread and to pray.  To repent. To tell the story.  To act and behave in a way that shows the Good News of Christ.  To seek and serve Christ in all people.  To work for justice and peace.  To respect the dignity of all human beings. 

Not only are you asked to commit what you believe, you are asked to act.  You are asked to act.  And you respond that, with God’s help, you will. 

At different times in our lives, God calls us in different ways, seeking  different responses.   At one time in life, teaching may be how you are called to respond.  You teach your own kids, you serve as a leader or trainer.  Maybe you’re called to serve Christ in the children in your life, with the sack lunches and skinned knees.  Starting with Baptism, God is always calling.  We are always asked to respond. 

We are not asked to do everything.  But we are all asked to do something. 

After the Lord’s baptism, you know what Jesus does?  The Spirit leads him out into the wilderness for 40 days.  Jesus, fully human, left his baptism to spend time trying to wrap his head around this relationship with God, what being marked as God’s own means, and how he was to respond. 

Maybe you can’t leave for 40 days to contemplate God’s call.  But at least pause when you respond, or go back and prayerfully consider this immense covenant and how God is calling you to respond in the coming week.  How is God calling you in your Baptism? 

I hear God calling me to respond to seek justice and serve Christ in all people. 

Fifty years ago this week, Lynden B. Johnson declared his war on poverty in his inauguration speech.  At that time, the poverty rate was 19% nationally.  And today, it’s 14% nationally.  While that’s improvement, it can hardly be considered winning the war on poverty.  Unfortunately, things are dire in our community.  In 1969, Lane County had a poverty rate of 11%, which translated to about 23,000 people living in poverty. 

In 2012 the number of people living in poverty has more than tripled, to 76,000, and our poverty rate has increased to 22%, well above the national rate 14%. 

And that poverty level?  The poverty level is about $24,000 per year. 

For a family of 4.

True, there are programs to help families in poverty.  The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP is a program that provides food, formerly known as food stamps.  A whopping 40% of people in Lane County are eligible for Food Stamps because of their low income. That would be good news, except what is offered as assistance is very low.  If you are eligible for SNAP, the per person weekly allotment for food is about $27.

It’s hard to even imagine how difficult that must be, to buy and prepare food a family would eat for $27 per person per week.  To help better internalize that, an interfaith group from around Eugene and Springfield are participating in something called the Food Stamp Challenge. 

Beginning today, anyone who wants to participate is invited to eat for the week on $27 per person.   For a family of four, you’d have a budget of $108. 

Even thinking about eating on a budget of $27 seems daunting.  Grocery shopping, preparing food that kids would eat, and eliminating the impulse food purchases that would blow that meager budget would be also a challenge.  Participating in something like this will provide me real experiences and emotions resulting from poverty, and influence many decisions for the week. It would affect how much time I take for food preparation, food choice, the ability to eat out socially with friends, compromises to buy cheaper processed food, and shop at cheaper less beautified stores.

 

I’m participating in the SNAP challenge because that is where God is calling me, and where I feel I need to respond.

As our Baptismal Covenant asks, “Will you seek and serve Christ in all people?”   My response?   I will, with God’s help.   

If, when you respond to this amazing indissoluble relationship, you feel called to respond in a similar way, join me.

If you are called in another way, maybe to proclaim the Gospel in word and action, respond in another way. 

If you don’t know how you are to respond, spend some time discerning how you are called to respond.   

As we renew the covenant we made with God, as we consider God’s indissoluble bond and our response, I pray we all hear God’s call and respond.  While I will not be able hear, understand or respond to God’s call on my own, as we will say shortly, I will, with God’s help.

Amen.