Baptism of Jesus

by Kathryn Aubry-McAvoy, Lay Preacher

In today’s Gospel reading from Mark, we witness Jesus’ baptism. As he rises from the water, the heavens are torn apart and the spirit descends like a dove on him, God speaks those exquisite words to Jesus “you are my beloved with you I am well pleased”. Then that gentle dove drives him into the wilderness!  Luke and Matthew say he was led there, driven or led by the hand of the Holy Spirit, he begins his wilderness days of prayer and fasting.  Mark (as usual) gives very few details about what happens in the wilderness. Matthew, never at a loss for words, tells us that he was tested 3 times by the devil, once tempted to feast to appease his hunger, (the temptation of the flesh), once tested to ask God to prove God’s power and love for us, (temptation of pride of life, and temptation to abuse power) and lastly tempted to worship all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. Jesus does not yield to the temptations and so wins this battle and is then attended by angels. He emerges from this wilderness proclaiming that the kingdom of God is near.

On this side of the resurrection, we know what was coming near, in his baptism and wilderness time Jesus is preparing for the ultimate test, crucifixion on Good Friday and then that 3rd day on which we sing “the strife is 0’er the battle done, the victory of life is won, the song of triumph has begun!” 

Today we begin our Lenten journey, our yearly time in the wilderness. Of course, wilderness times come frequently in life; times when we are struggling with sorrow, loss, confusion and fear. 
Historically, in the church, Lent was a season when those persons preparing for baptism began a time of prayer and fasting, so that they were prepared to sign on to their covenant with God. (Spoiler alert: we reaffirm our Baptismal vows at the Easter vigil and we will welcome 2 persons into the household of God during the Easter season, here at James and Andrew.) In this season of Lent, we are called to wrestle with this question: have we been keeping our baptismal covenant? This is a chance for us to prepare for renewing our baptismal promises and search for ways to better keep those promises.

The great litany, that dramatic listing of various petitions and responses, was used as early as the 5th century in Rome. It is an all-embracing prayer for everything and everyone: from natural disasters to guidance for leaders of the nations! It’s not an easy prayer, but it leads us into Lent in our tradition, and it can be a prompt to review how well we are doing in keeping our baptismal promises. Yes, we are asking for Gods help, but maybe our Lenten discernment could be to ask ourselves: “how well are we keeping up with our end of the bargain?”

In the Great Litany we ask God to “spare us from evil and mischief:  In our Baptismal Covenant we promise (with God’s help) to resist evil and when we don’t to repent and return to God.

In the Great Litany we ask God to deliver us from worldliness, and false gods, : In our Baptismal Covenant we pledge with God’s help to believe in God, in Jesus Christ and in the holy Spirit (period!).

In the Great litany we ask God to visit the lonely, strengthen those who stand, comfort and help the fainthearted and raise up the fallen; In our Baptismal Covenant we pledge to respect the dignity of everyone, seeking and seeing Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.

I need to add a personal note to self here (this might help you): Keeping the covenant does not necessarily mean work harder or take on exciting new ministry opportunities. It was moving to hear vestry members talk about their Lenten practices at our meeting this past week. So many of them described small, personal gestures of love, care, comfort and respect; for family, coworkers, neighbors and friends, recognizing Christ in all persons.

As we wander into our own Lenten wilderness, we have an opportunity to review and renew our Baptismal promises and search for ways to better keep those promises, to review how well we are keeping up our side of the covenant.  There are a few paper copies in the Narthex, our Baptismal Covenant is on page 305 of the Book of Common Prayer; also found online at bcponline.org 

Lent is a chance to ask ourselves this: how can we more fully “believe, continue in the Apostles’ teaching, resist evil, repent, return, proclaim, seek, serve and strive for justice and peace?” 

  
It’s a big ask, I know, but remember that God has already given us hearts full of love and compassion. We all are “the great joy of God’s life”. I believe, with God’s help, we can do it.

Amen

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