Through Water, Flame & Winnowing
Isaiah 43:1-7; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 - Baptism of Our Lord, Sunday January 9, 2022
Pastor Ritva H Williams
Our gospel reading begins with the people gathered by the Jordan River. The people are waiting, expecting, anticipating, questioning, and wondering. The people are looking toward something that has not yet fully manifested itself, something that is at best only partially known and understood. Some of the people were probably looking toward that future something with fear. Some were filled with longing and hope. Perhaps others were doing their best to remain neutral and open to whatever that future something would be. The thing that the people were expecting and wondering about was whether John the Baptist might be the Messiah — the one to liberate them from Roman occupation, bring justice to the oppressed, lighten their daily burdens, heal their sick, reconcile their divisions.
We are nine days into a new year. We are gathered this here this morning in person and virtually, waiting and wondering what this year will bring. How will 2022 unfold? Some of us may be fearful that we will not yet see the end of the coronavirus pandemic. Some of us may be angry over the way the pandemic has turned our lives upside down. Some of us are no doubt longing for everything to return to “normal.” Some of us realize that there is no going back in time, that we cannot bring those who have died, or heal those whose health has been ruined. Some of us might be hoping for something new, something better, something kinder and more compassionate to emerge from these difficult times.
John the Baptist speaks to the waiting and wondering crowds, acknowledging his ministry of calling people to repent and be baptized with water for the forgiveness of sins. To repent is to turn away from the past. To repent is to turn away from the values, attitudes, and behaviors that shaped the past. In the water, the people are released (that’s what forgiveness means) and washed clean so they can take on new values, attitudes and behaviors in the coming new world. John is clear that their baptism with water marks beginning of their journey. The Messiah — the Christ — who is much more powerful will baptize them with Holy Spirit and fire. The Christ will winnow them and shake the trash out of their lives. This is the good news John the Baptist proclaimed to the people.
Martin Luther begins his famous 95 Theses with the statement, “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.” Our lifelong journey of faith is about getting rid of the trash in our lives — the values, attitudes, and behaviors that are hurtful and harmful to ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors, and those we think are our enemies. Whether we receive this good news with joy or disappointment, hope or fear, longing or anger will depend on how attached we are to the trash that has been dumped on us and the trash we have picked up.
Our Gospel reading continues, telling us that all the people were baptized and Jesus also was baptized. Jesus was there that day by the Jordan River standing together with the people waiting and wondering. No one knew who he was. He looked and sounded like just another artisan from a rural village. Together with the people he went into the river and emerged washed clean of the past, ready for a new beginning. Only Luke’s gospel tells us that Jesus prayed after being baptized. For what we don’t know. A prayer of thanksgiving? A prayer for courage and strength to carry out his mission? But as Jesus was praying the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove, and the voice from heaven declared, “You are my Son, the Beloved, in whom I delight.”
In Jesus’ baptism we see God doing what God promised long ago to God’s people. Our first reading speaks to a people who were brutalized and conquered, prisoners of war, captives in a foreign land, far from home. The superpowers of the day — Persia and Egypt — were rattling their sabers and threatening to go to war. In that moment God did two things simultaneously. God inspired Cyrus of Persia to release the Judean captives and empowered them to return to their homeland and rebuild their society (1). At the same time, God raised up a prophet named Isaiah who conveyed God’s message to the captives:
But now thus says the Lord …
who created you, O Jacob … who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire your shall not be burned,
and the flame will not consume you.
For I am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
… you are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.
Do not fear, for I am with you …
[with] everyone who is called by my name,
whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.
God’s promise spoken long ago still resonates today even though our situation is not the same as that of the ancient Judeans. We face an uncertain future right here in our own homeland threatened by COVID, climate change, disinformation that confuses, conspiracy theories that divide and polarize, hatred and prejudice against people who are different, social isolation that keeps us apart, and so much more.
In the actions of Jesus we see God’s promise enacted and made real for all people created and formed by God in God’s own image. God does not promise to magically remove all the bad, mad and sad stuff that is happening into our world, our community, or our lives. God promises to walk with us through all of it. God promises to be beside, to hold our hands, and even carry us through the water, the flames, and the winnowing. God yearns to wash, purify and shake out the trash that gets in the way of our flourishing as God’s children, precious, honored, and loved.
And so we begin 2022 with a word of God that is provides a reality check even it promises God’s steadfast love and presence in all circumstances. Please pray with me in these words adapted from a prayer by Pastor John van de Laar (sacredise.com).
O God, holy and immortal …
When we are overwhelmed by responsibility or struggle, we forget your presence and power.
When we are proud of our dreams or achievements, we forget your presence and power.
When we are faced with great suffering or great opportunity, we forget your presence and power.
But, you are God – with all that the word implies,
and you are right here, with us, within us, in partnership with us;
and so whatever we may face, whatever we may have to endure or enjoy,
we praise you for your presence and power that embraces us,
your Holy Spirit that fills us,
and we celebrate the knowledge that in Christ you have walked the road before us,
incarnate, baptized, mortal and eternal.
Amen.
Cory Driver, “Commentary on Isaiah 43:1-7; workingpreacher.org, 2022.
