A Sermon for First Sunday after Epiphany
The Rev. Patricia Gillespie

Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-38
Matthew 3:13-17
Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:20-29

Several years ago the elders of "The United House of Prayer for All People," a Pentecostal denomination with some 3.5 million members, introduced a new and possibly very American form of baptism. The Washington D.C.-based church baptized some 2,000 new Christians by fire hose on a church parking lot in Charlotte, North Carolina. The fire hose was connected to the hydrant and set to a fine spray, 'to prevent injuries'.

Well, John the Baptist, so we are told, had those kinds of numbers to baptize. Not having the Jordan handy in North Carolina, I suppose the fire hose is one solution.

Baptism brings up lots of questions: Not only: Do you dip or dunk or sprinkle or spray with a fire hose? But also: Do you baptize babies or believers? Are the unbaptized damned forever? What's this sacrament about anyway?

And, in the midst of all these questions, last night's fortune cookie said simply. "Many questions are unanswerable. Many answers are questionable."

And with the sacraments, that's all too true, and one is often tempted to leave it at that. There is an unanswerable quality to any sacrament. They are all mysteries, those "outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace" (Book of Common Prayer, p. 857) But there's part of an answer right there in the definition.

Water, however much however used, at age whatever, is the "outward and visible sign" of the spiritual grace that God give as God pleases. As we are told in today's reading from the Acts of the Apostles, "God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him." The spiritual grace and acceptance by God can be present in people who have never been baptized. God can save unbaptized people.

Baptism is for us a sign "given by Christ as sure and certain means by which we receive that grace" (Book of Common Prayer, p. 857). In those churches, like our Episcopal Church, that do baptize infants, the sign is a powerful reminder that the grace is freely given and not earned: an infant can't do anything to earn it, it's pure gift. Anyone may have God's grace. But the baptized have a sure and certain sign of their acceptance by God.

So why did Jesus need to be baptized? He was already full of God's grace. He belonged absolutely to God. He didn't have any sins to be washed away. The question John the Baptist and the early Church asked is a good one: Why does Jesus need to be baptized, especially by his cousin John, who is after all only the one sent to prepare the way for Jesus?

The answer Jesus gives is, of course, proof that Jesus was an Episcopalian. He says, "Let it be so for now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Episcopalians are particularly good at doing ritual in the "proper" way. And our reasons for doing that may be a clue to what Jesus is saying (even if he wasn't really a proper Episcopalian). Often we do certain things in certain proper ways "because we've always done it that way."

Now that can be frustrating for those like John and Jesus, who are preaching, radical change. John called for radical change, for repentance; baptism signified a whole new life. According to John, Jesus was sent to proclaim even more radical change, to make everything new, So, then, why do things the old way? Because we've always done it that way. Because doing it the "proper" old, traditional way connects us with the community.

Jesus doesn't say "it's proper for ME" he says "proper for US." Jesus is making a statement of solidarity and identity with the baptized community.

That's what baptism does. The baptized person is included in the community, in the Body of Christ. The Prayer Book tells us that in baptism "God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church" (p. 858). Jesus was baptized and included in the community because he identified with the people, with us. Jesus identifies himself with us, but that's not all that happens. There is that awesome voice from heaven that adds to Jesus' identity. God identifies Jesus as "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." Baptism is about identity. Baptism tells us who we are. That's why naming is an important part of the ritual. The question at baptism is, "Who are you?"

Each person is baptized with their own individual name. That recognizes their unique Identity. The baptized person is included in the community and gains a new identity as child of God. Because Jesus in his baptism identified himself with us and God identified Jesus as God's beloved Son, we by baptism also become beloved children of God.

Identity and Inclusion. We each have our own unique identity and that identity shares in the "inward and spiritual grace" of baptism. So whoever you are -- the unique person that God made you -- you are beloved by and well pleasing to God.

You have unique gifts and abilities that are part of Christ's Body, the Church. These are the gifts that enable us to fulfill the promises of our Baptismal Covenant, that we will read today as our creed. So today in response to the gospel we will do both something "proper" in reaffirming our Baptismal Covenant and something "radically new" because there's going to be a test on the sermon now.

Don't panic. You already know the answers, even if you didn't listen to the sermon at all. There's only one question, although twenty answers are expected. The question is "Who are you?"

Jesus models a good response for us. He's quite fond of giving lots of answers, saying "I am ... the light, the way, the gate, the good shepherd ..."

There aren't going to be any grades. Your answers are only for yourself and God. Take them with you for later reflection considering the gifts you have been given and how you might use them in God's service. Today, as we come forward for communion, I encourage you to go first to the baptismal font to remember your baptism by making the sign of the cross on your forehead with water. (Aren't you glad I didn't arrange for a firehose?).

And then as you come forward bring in your heart the list of who you are to offer to God, knowing that God can use all our gifts, and that even the broken parts of who you are will be treasured by God. Because God does not break the bruised reed or quench a dimly burning wick, but delights in us as beloved daughters and sons.