The Story
January 12, 2020
Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:13-17

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.’ Then he consented. 

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.’

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Something to Do

Remember your (or a loved one’s) baptism

Perhaps in addition to your regular mealtime grace, light a candle in remembrance of the candle you received at baptism (bonus points if you have an actual baptismal candle in the house) and offer this prayer from the baptismal service:

Loving God,
we thank you that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed upon me your servant the forgiveness of sin, and have raised me to the new life of grace. Sustain me, O God, in your Holy Spirit. Give me an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works. Amen.

The Spirit of God descending like a dove

In our baptism, we are joined with Christ and included in his relationship with God. Make an origami dove as a sign of the Spirit’s presence, alighting on you and revealing you to be God’s beloved child.

Instructions with diagrams or with video

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Something to Wonder

Who saw what?

The different Gospel accounts describe the baptism of Jesus slightly differently. Matthew’s account strongly suggests only Jesus saw the Spirit while John’s is clear that other people saw it as well. Mark and Luke are less clear on the question.

What do you imagine happened?
What are the different implications of the different possibilities – of a private versus public revelation?
If you were Jesus, which would you have preferred?

This is my son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased

This is a profoundly beautiful expression of love and it describes not only God’s relationship to Jesus but also God’s relationship to each of us. Sit in silence for a number of minutes (1? 5? 10?) and softly repeat to yourself “I am God’s Beloved, with whom God is well pleased”. Don’t think too much about it. Just let yourself feel it.

You are my beloved, with whom I am well pleased

Who might you say this to? Do it.

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Something to Learn

Mikveh – The Jewish practice of immersion

The baptism practiced by John was part of a long and broad Jewish tradition of immersion in water that continues to this day. There are certainly resonances with some of our Christian understandings of baptism but the two are also quite different.

My Jewish Learning offers this essay: What is a Mikveh? Whether you’re dunking for conversion or for any other reason, here’s what to expect at the ritual bath.

Eastern Orthodox Epiphany

Western and Eastern Christianity’s Christmas/Epiphany celebrations are offset from one another in interesting ways. For one, the Feast of the Epiphany, when we celebrated the arrival of the magi, is when Orthodox Christians celebrate the baptism of Jesus and they call it the Theophany. Both celebrations focus on the physical revelation of God in the person of Jesus and are part of a season in which God making Godself known in the world is celebrated.

Theophany is marked with special ceremonies for blessing water in various forms – some of which is taken to people’s homes and used to bless those as well.

Read more here:
Theophany Icon Explained on the website, Orthodox Road.
Feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on the website of the Orthodox Church in America
Theophany on Orthowiki

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Something to Pray

Holy God, we do not always understand your word or your ways. 
Give us wisdom and imagination and courage as we learn and grow. 

The story this week has made me wonder about…
         (what questions are still on your heart?)
Receive my questions and help me hear your answers.

The story this week has filled me with…
         (how are you feeling?)
Accept my praise, heal my hurt, ease my worry.

The story this week has reminded me of…
         (are there situations or people you are thinking of?)
Be with all who are in need of you.

In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

The Church Times explains the tradition of chalking the doors this way:

The blessing and distribution of chalks with which houses are marked with a special logo commemorating the visit of the Magi is a Catholic custom that seems to have originated in and spread from Central Europe at the end of the Middle Ages.

On or near the feast of the Epiphany, and conveniently close to the begining of a New Year, the tradition has been to ask God’s blessing on homes and mark the door post or lintel with chalks that have been blessed for that purpose. The doors are chalked with the legendary names or initials of the three Magi, and the numerals of the New Year, connected with a series of crosses. The initials C, M, and B commemorate the Magi, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar, but also stand for the Latin prayer-request Christus Mansionem Benedicat: “May Christ bless this house.”

Marking our doors is a visible sign of our desire to make our homes places of welcome and sanctuary and of our faith that God is present with us, at home and wherever we go.

This Sunday, we will bless chalk to mark the door of our church and to distribute, along with a copy of the prayer, so you can mark your own doors. If you are unable to join us, use chalk blessed simply because it is part of God’s good creation and the prayer below:

Standing on your doorstep

The Lord be with you (or, if alone) In the name of the Holy Trinity:
And also with you

The wise ones followed God’s star to Bethlehem, seeking the saviour.
I will follow the star.
They found Jesus in Bethlehem and knew they had found the one they were seeking. 
I will seek to recognize Jesus.
They fell down and worshipped him, offering him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
I will offer our gifts to the Lord.

The door is marked 20+C+M+B+20 while you say:

Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar followed the star of God’s son who became human two thousand and twenty years ago.  May Christ bless this home and each person who lives or visits here.

Holy God, watch over my/our going out and my/our coming in throughout this year.  Fill me/us with the light of Christ that I/we may grow in love, in wisdom, and in faith.  Amen.