Sermon for January 13th

Please note: I will not be preaching the next 2 Sundays, my next post will be Sunday, February 3rd.

 The reading

Matthew 3:1-17

1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2 "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: "Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.' " 4 Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham as our ancestor'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 "I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." 13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15 But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 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. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

The message

(I am continuing without a manuscript so here is a brief outline)

We are still in that time of epiphany, of revealing, of the world figuring out who was born on Christmas.  We also see who first experiences this good news of great joy, light to people in darkness and that reveals a lot too.  First were the shepherds,  not exactly everyone's favorite people and not exactly religious scholars, Then foreigners, the magi, visitors from far away with no known historic or cultural connection to Israel.

Today, about 30 or so years after the wise men visit, we hear from John the Baptist.  This time, the arrival of the kingdom of God is announced by an outsider, a prophet who was not connected with the temple authorities, who never claimed or tried to be.  John's message is that promise from Isaiah 49

I have a greater task for you, my servant

    Not only will I restore to greatness
    the people of Israel who have survived,
but I will also make you a light to the nations—
    so that all the world may be saved.”

 This is why John is so aggressive with the religious authorities,  the kingdom is not confined to a particular place, time or people.  Their claim to authority and power was that they were children of Abraham.  God was doing something new.  People would be known as children of Baptism, a diverse and different people connected to God through grace, baptism and love.  This is how the world would be saved.  

Today, we are invited to remember the kingdom of God has plenty of room for everyone.  We are also invited to remember, we receive that same spirit that descends on Jesus, that same power John has to speak the truth and that same joy when we realize the waiting is over