Sermon for Epiphany 1A--RCL

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January 13, 2008

Loreen Kleinschmidt

Epiphany 1A

The Baptism of our Lord

RCL
To read the lessons for the day click here:

http://www.io.com/~kellywp/YearA/Epiphany/AEpi1.html

Isaiah 42:1-9

Acts 10:34-43

Matthew 3:13-17

Psalm 29

Today we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord. And so we have readings from 2 wonderful baptism stories.

In the Gospel we hear the story of Jesus coming to John the Baptist at the Jordan River for baptism.

In the New Testament lesson from the book of Acts, we hear Peter’s speech to the household of Cornelius the Centurion, a wonderful account of the baptism of the first Gentiles.

It is too bad we get so little of this account in our Sunday lectionary…we get the speech but not the context of the story. So let me fill you in.

Cornelius was a Centurion in Caesarea, a very devout man, although he was a gentile. He prayed and gave alms regularly. One afternoon he was praying and had a vision of an angel, who told him to send for Peter, who was staying at the house of Simon the Tanner in Joppa. So he sent 2 slaves and a devout soldier to ask Peter to come. The next day Peter was at prayer, and had his vision of the great sheet being lowered from heaven by its 4 corners, containing all kids of animals, and he heard a voice that said “Get up Peter, kill and eat.” To which Peter responded “By no means Lord, I have never eaten anything unclean.” And the voice replied “What God has made clean, you must not call profane”. This happened 3 times, and then the men from Cornelius arrived. So Peter gave them hospitality and the next day he accompanied them back to Cornelius’ house, with a few of the Jewish Christians from Joppa. In the meantime, Cornelius assembled his relatives and close friends to hear what Peter had to say. Remember that, as a Jew, Peter and his friends were not supposed to associate with or visit Gentiles, and these Gentiles were well aware that by visiting them Peter was stepping way out of bounds. We read Peter’s words to them in today’s Gospel. While he was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard his words; they were speaking in tongues and extolling God. So Peter said “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” They baptized Cornelius and those gathered with him there and then, and one of the early controversies of the church began—over how Christians who are Jews live together with Christians who are Gentiles.

We remember Peter’s words: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him….Jesus commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead… Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

It is a powerful story with a powerful message. From the very beginning, baptism was the outward and visible sign of that inward and spiritual grace, that expression of sacrament that binds us to Christ, and to each other. And we are still working out how to live together as the baptized, all made brothers and sisters in Christ.

In the Episcopal Church, we often speak of the baptismal covenant. Those of you who were here Christmas morning got to renew your baptismal covenant during the baptism of little Tyler that morning. This afternoon at 1 p.m. we will begin a class that will run several weeks that explores the baptismal covenant; the dates are in your bulletin. All are welcome to participate, whether you are preparing for confirmation, reception into the Episcopal church, want to reaffirm your baptismal covenant after a period of intentional study and preparation, or just want to come and find out something about life as a Christian in the Episcopal Church.

We have talked about Shared Ministry in this congregation for quite awhile. To some people it is a way to get along with less than a full time priest. That may be the way it begins, but that is not what is meant. Shared ministry, or Total Ministry, as our bishop prefers to call it, is based on living into our baptismal covenant, not just as individuals, but as a congregation.

Total ministry creates a ministering community, not a community gathered around a minister.

On the communications table there is a brochure on Total Ministry, describing what it is, what it is not, sort of how it is organized, and how a congregation gets from the beginning of the process to the end. I urge you to pick one up and read it, and discuss it together at coffee hour.

And now, we will read the Baptismal Covenant together. So please turn to page 304 in the Book of Common Prayer.

I want to do this a little differently than we usually do. In order to live into the thought that this is something we do together as a congregation, not just as individuals, we are going to share the reading of this.

I want each side of the isle to turn and face the other side of the isle.

Would the convention center side of the church read the celebrant part, and the 15^th street side of the congregation read the people part.

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Father?

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

Celebrant Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

People I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

and born of the Virgin Mary.

He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended to the dead.

On the third day he rose again.

He ascended into heaven,

and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Celebrant Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

People I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life everlasting.

Celebrant Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and

fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the

prayers?