A sermon by Senior Minister John B. McCall, January 10, 2010
Luke 3:15-22
Acts 8:14-17
Last Sunday, January 3rd, was a wonderful day to be here in worship. When Elsa and I had flipped the coin months earlier we agreed she’d have December 27th off and I’d lead worship, then she’d lead worship on the 3rd and I’d be free to sit with Andrea and Ben in the pew. With school vacation and slippery streets, with the TV posting cancellation notices for dozens of churches in the area, she had every reason to think there would be only a handful of folks here at 10 o’clock.
There were warm words of welcome as we arrived and sat here in the chancel, right by the intrepid members of our choir who always seem to make it through wind and ice and snow. And as we sat we watched streams of people flow in – more and more – many more than could sit here in the chancel, and the front rows began to fill: 75 of us gathered last Sunday on the morning after the storm. And the Spirit of fellowship and family, and bond of the bread and the cup all formed us together in true worship.
I headed home, filled to overflowing with gratitude for what we have discovered here together in our life and in our church. It’s truly a remarkable gift of grace.
Also last Sunday I read Bill Nemitz’ column in the Portland Telegram, entitled “Most of us literally don’t have a prayer.” He reminded us of what we’ve suspected as reported in the Pew Center’s Forum on Religion and Public Life. 60% of Mainers don’t pray; 58% of Mainers say religion is not important in their daily lives; 41% say they don’t believe in God. When it comes to attending religious services, Mainers we have the third lowest average in the nation.
Bill quoted from his interview with Jill Job Saxby, a member and former Associate Minister with us here, and currently Executive Director of the Maine Council of Churches. This trend away from church is growing and it challenges every worshiping community. We dare not deny what it means for all of us.
For me, the first and most important roles of my faith, and church community, and regular worship are that they remind me who I am!
We do remember who we are, don’t we? Ask our children and youth. They’re engaged in a search for identity and meaning. They’re on a Quest. That’s why faith formation is so urgent. When our kids rebel against Sunday school and we concede, who and what will define them instead? When our youth say that Confirmation classes aren’t cool and we imagine they can pick up religious teachings by osmosis, whom are we kidding? If we’re not intentionally remembering who we are, we’re giving in to the messages that pound us every day, the false definitions that confront us everywhere we turn:
Who are we?
“You’re a potential pill-popping patient” say the pharmaceutical companies as they pay hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising to assure their product will be the first name on your lips when you tell your doctor you need a pill.
Who are we?
“You’re really your body,” say the movies, music, soaps and sports. You must be sleek and slim and beautiful or you’re nobody. Dress to attract attention. You are your body.
Who are we?
“You’re really your brain,” say the schools and many parents and the college admissions officers. Study hard and make sure you have a good list of extra-curriculars; live to learn rather than learn to live. It’s not who you are but what plays well on a college app that will get you ahead.
Who are we?
“You’re really a maker and spender of money” says the marketplace. “You can have it all.” Shop ‘til you drop, max out the cards.
Who are we?
“You’re a self-made, self-centered, self-actualized human being” says the whole culture. Look out for number one and ignore the rest. You’re the most important person ever born. The world was made for your happiness and pleasure.
Who are we?
“You’re a lost, fallen sinner,” says our conservative sisters and brothers. But Jesus has saved you from your fate by dying on the cross in your place. Accept him into your heart and go to heaven.”
Who are we?
“You are baptized!” answers the Gospel. You are a child of God, disciple of Christ, member of the church. The world wasn’t made for you, but God made you out of love and placed you in the world to live abundantly and to serve joyfully.
Through the sacrament of baptism God names you and places you in community. Through community we remember who we are.
We remember who we are…
Last year we bought the 30th anniversary DVD of Alex Haley’s book Roots. Kunta Kinte, the young man who was dragged from his village by slave traders and who was Haley’s direct ancestor, drove his master to a ball at a neighboring plantation and settled down in the carriage, preparing to pass the night as his master partied. He could clearly hear the music coming from the majestic house.
Then gradually he began to hear some other music from the slaves’ quarters far away. It was strangely familiar. He wandered the path, drawn by the beating drum and found his way to a small cabin where an old man played out the African music of home. Kunta Kinte learned that he and the old man were from the same region of Africa and quickly began to tell stories in their native tongue – a practice forbidden by slave masters.
That night, after returning home, the young man rolled on the floor of his cabin and wept – crying for all that had been taken from him, all he’d forgotten; and crying just as much for all that he now remembered. Here’s a parable for us about baptism. We remember who we are as we live in community, connected to the Story.
We baptize our sons and daughters and release them to the world and fear they’ll wander too far away. But we also trust and pray that we’ve taught them the Story and that they’ll remember who they are. Our identity comes from the Christian community. We gain strength and endurance from our incorporation – we are made one with the Body of Christ.
I honor every one of you as parents who struggle to raise your children in the faith, facing the inevitable resistance and the many temptations to throw up your hands in despair and simply to act as though the world “out there” will teach your children well. God bless you and give you a spirit of determination to raise your children in the Story, in the faith. Proverbs says it well – raise up your children in the right way and they will not soon depart from it.
Today’s lesson from the Gospel of Luke tells us John was baptizing people in the Jordan, reminding them that the one to follow was much greater. He baptized with water, while Messiah would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Luke tells us that something remarkable happened as Jesus rose up out of the water. The heavens opened and the dove of the Holy Spirit descended. Then witnesses heard the voice of God saying “You are my beloved son. I am well pleased with you.”
The Gospel accounts of Jesus’ baptism reminds us it wasn’t in a sanctuary with purified water, beaming grandparents, and the host of heavenly voices that our choir brings every week. Neither was he baptized in repentance for his sins because he was without sin.
Jesus was baptized to show that his life – heart, soul, mind and strength – belonged not to himself but to God. Symbolically, the immersion says just that – the new disciple is submerged as a symbol of the death of selfishness, and rises – just as Jesus rose – filled with new life.
While our custom may be less dramatic, we too are called the beloved children of God. In baptism we’re reminded whose we are. In baptism we’re commissioned to live our lives in particular ways. Named. Reminded. Sent.
And in baptism we remember that we belong. We’re wrong to interpret baptism solely as a personal and private matter of one person expressing faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. Baptism is an act of community and witnesses to the truth that we thrive as Christians by being Christian in the company of others.
So what do you think?
• In this Epiphany season can you keep the door open – at least a crack – and hold on to the radical claim that you are God’s beloved child?
• And can you, today, claim your baptism as a radical act that declares the world doesn’t own you?
• And can you walk with the confidence that Isaiah spoke more than 2500 years ago when he said:
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 you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
This God is no stranger. In the birth of the Holy child, in your baptism and mine, and in the ministry we share, we know the privilege and joy of standing face to face with our creator…
…Child of God, disciple of Christ, member of the church.