Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Jan. 9, 2022 (Epiphany 1C/Baptism of Our Lord)

First Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7

The 12 Days of Christmas are over, and we are back to green altar colors and vestments as the season after Epiphany has begun.

The Gospel stories during this season will remind us of events that manifested the divinity of Jesus: The arrival of the Magi, which we heard in preview last Sunday; and now the baptism of Jesus by John at the Jordan. Our first reading from Isaiah and the following Psalm invoke images of water; the second reading, from Acts, and the Gospel speak of baptism. In the first reading, Isaiah assures the Israelites in exile that they will return to Jerusalem, kept safe by God through fire and water.

Psalm: Psalm 29

In Psalm 29, a thundering hymn from the ancient Temple in Jerusalem, the faithful sing of God’s power as seen in a great tempest. God is upon the mighty waters, the Psalmist sings. God’s voice is powerful. We hear it in thunder and lightning, wind and noise, flashing fire and mighty winds that shake the earth and topple trees. But these are not things to fear, the Psalmist assures us. They are signs of the mighty power and majesty of God. As the storm comes to a close, we are left with God’s promises of strength and peace. We share in these gifts through our baptism.

Second Reading: Acts 8:14-17

The Acts of the Apostles, the second act of Luke’s Gospel, tells the exciting story of Paul, the disciples, and other church leaders taking the new Way of Jesus across the ancient Mediterranean, spreading the Good News to Jews and Gentiles alike. Sunday’s short reading gives us a glimpse of Peter and John baptizing new Christians in Samaria. The Samaritans were longtime enemies of the Jews (which is why the Good Samaritan was so surprising), but now the apostles don’t venture boldly out to welcome and embrace the Samaritan converts and baptize them in the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

As Luke offers his account of the baptism of Jesus, he musters images of water and fire that seem to echo what we heard in the readings from Isaiah and Psalms. In previous verses, the people had wondered if John the Baptist was the Messiah, but John told them that the one who is coming – Jesus – is far more powerful than he. Now John steps aside – this Lectionary passage skips three verses explaining that Herod put John in prison. We then learn that Jesus has been baptized, whereupon the Holy Spirit appeared in the form of a dove, and God’s voice from heaven announced that Jesus is God’s son, the Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Jan. 13, 2019

First Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7

We have an extra long season after Epiphany this year – eight Sundays with Gospels sketching the revelation of Jesus as Messiah – because Easter falls on April 21 and Ash Wednesday on March 6. That’s almost as late as Easter can possibly occur, so Epiphany stretches out to fill the gap. This week we hear of the Baptism of Jesus, the beginning of his public ministry, with Sunday readings that speak of water and fire.

In our first reading, the Prophet Isaiah assures us that God is with us. God calls us by name and watches over us as we pass safely through waters, rivers, and fire. “Do not fear,” the prophet tells the people returning from exile, “for I am with you.”

Psalm: Psalm 29

Sunday’s Psalm is a thundering hymn of the ancient temple, a song depicting the power of God as it might be seen and heard in a great storm. Thunder crashes and lightning flashes; fire and winds shake the earth and topple trees. These are not things to fear, the Psalmist sings, but signs of the great power and majesty of God. As the storm comes to a close, we are left with God’s promises of strength and peace, gifts that we too seek to gain when we are sealed by the Holy Spirit in Baptism.

Second Reading: Acts 8:14-17

The Acts of the Apostles is a fascinating story about the early church. It is the Evangelist Luke’s interpretation of how Christianity spread from its infant beginning in Jerusalem to much of the then-known world in the Mediterranean. Though rooted in Judaism, the church soon opened its doors to Gentiles as well. These verses mark this significant change, as Peter and John travel to Samaria to welcome and embrace the once-hated Samaritans, baptized in water and the Spirit, as new brothers and sisters in the church.

Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Was John the Baptist the Messiah? Many of his followers came to him at the Jordan in this hope. But Luke proclaims the contrary, telling us that John declared himself unworthy to untie Jesus’ sandals. John says that it is Jesus, not John, who will baptize not only with water but with the Holy Spirit and fire. John envisions Jesus presiding over a strict and final judgement like a harvester, separating the wheat from the chaff. Finally we come to Luke’s concise telling of the familiar story of Jesus’ baptism: The Spirit comes down as a dove, and God’s voice proclaims that Jesus is God’s son, the Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Jan. 10, 2016

First Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7

When we baptize new members into the church community, we bless the water, giving thanks for this gift. We remember the Spirit wind breathing over the water at creation; we remember he Israelites crossing the Red Sea to escape bondage in Egypt; and we remember Jesus receiving baptism from John. Water, living water, flows through all today’s readings, along with the fire of the Spirit. Isaiah assures us that God, who calls us by name and watches over us, is with us as we pass safely through waters, rivers, and fire. “Do not fear, for I am with you.”

Psalm 29

This majestic hymn envisions the power of God through the metaphor of a great storm over mighty waters, full of thunder and lightning and powerful winds that shake and break the tallest trees. Even in these fearful events, God stays with us, enthroned above the storm, giving us strength, and, when the storm has passed at last, the blessing of peace.

Second Reading: Acts 8:14-17

The Acts of the Apostles is a fascinating story about the early church. It is the Evangelist Luke’s interpretation of how Christianity spread from its infant beginning in Jerusalem to much of the then-known world in the Mediterranean. Though rooted in Judaism, the church soon opened its doors to Gentiles as well. These verses mark this significant change, as Peter and John travel to Samaria to welcome and embrace the once-hated Samaritans, baptized in water and the Spirit, as new brothers and sisters in the church.

Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Was John the Baptist the Messiah? Many of his followers apparently wondered if he might be, but Luke proclaims the contrary, showing John himself declaring that he is not so much as worthy to untie Jesus’ sandals. Jesus, not John, will baptize not only with water but also with the Holy Spirit and fire, John says. Using the language of harvesting wheat as metaphor, John imagines Jesus presiding over a strict and final judgement, separating the wheat from the chaff. Then we hear a brief version of the familiar story of Jesus’ baptism: The Spirit comes down as a dove, and God’s voice proclaims that Jesus is God’s son, the Beloved, with whom God is well pleased.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013.

First Reading: Isaiah 43:1-7
Both our Old Testament readings invoke images of water today as we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. Isaiah prophesies that the Israelites in exile will return to Jerusalem, kept safe by God through fire and water. In Baptism we give thanks for the gift of the water over which the Holy Spirit moved in creating the world, through which God led Israel out of bondage; in which Jesus received John’s baptism, and in which we are reborn though baptism in Christ.

Psalm 29
In today’s psalm, a thundering temple hymn, the faithful sing of God’s power as seen in a great storm. Thunder and lightning, wind and noise, flashing fire and mighty winds that shake the earth and topple trees: But these are not things to fear. They are signs of the mighty power and majesty of God. As the storm comes to a close, we are left with God’s promises of strength and peace. We share in these gifts through our baptism.

Second Reading: Acts 8:14-17
The Acts of the Apostles, a sequel to Luke’s Gospel, tells the exciting story of the apostles and Paul taking the new church across the ancient Mediterranean, spreading the Good News to both Jews and Gentiles. In today’s short reading we get a glimpse of Peter and John baptizing new Christians in Samaria. Remember that the Samaritans were longtime enemies of the Jews (which is why the Good Samaritan was so surprising), but now the apostles venture boldly out, not just staying safely among “their kind.”

Gospel: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
In Luke’s account of Jesus’s baptism, he shows us images of water and fire that seem to echo what we heard in the readings from Isaiah and Psalms. The people had wondered if John the Baptist was the Messiah, but John told them no: The one who is coming – Jesus – is far more powerful than he. Then today’s reading skips three verses in which Herod put John in prison. When we return, Jesus has been baptized, the Holy Spirit appeared as a dove, and God’s voice from heaven announced that Jesus is God’s son. Let’s remember today that as baptized Christians we too are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own for ever.