One of the many things that makes a sermon different from a speech is the core components. There are three: logos, ethos, and pathos. Some charming Greek words that almost sound like the Three Musketeers!
Logos: this is the word: not just a topic, but using the Word of God, discerning a teaching, and finding a way to convey it.
Ethos: this is the character of the sermon, in which the preacher aims to use the culture and context to help inform the worshipers of the importance of the text
And Pathos: the emotional connection, where those hearing the sermon are invited to action based on their reaction to the experience.
So our Gospel passage today is often used as a prime example of this.
But first, let’s look at today’s other scriptural offerings to set the scene, as it were, to the richness of the Gospel. For they are weaving together for us a gorgeous reality of the world as God created – and is creating – it.
We’re being reminded that the presence of God is never being revealed in just one format. God is always present in creation, from that very first day. We hear of the wind of God sweeping over the face of the waters. The Wind of God – the Spirit – the breath of life. And it’s sweeping – or hovering – or pulsating – over the face of the waters. This divine presence is just there… excited, energising everything that it touches – and that touches it. The life-force of God, vibrating with enthusiasm – like a small child on Christmas morning – it can’t sit still it’s so exuberant! Just above the waters, influencing both darkness and lightness, the day and night: and through which all of creation passes. Yes: we’re so often focused on the realities of creation, that we overlook this beautiful truth: that everything God creates emerges from the waters, and passes through the Spirit – gaining life as God loves it into being.
Our psalmist articulates the ways in which the presence of God can be seen throughout nature: and this loosely follows a pattern first shown to us in that Genesis creation: from the unrestricted glory of God, we learn that the Voice of the Lord is upon the waters – the voice calling all things into being. From this are the land, the trees, the animals: all strong creatures in and of themselves, yet all of them subject to God, and lesser in strength than God. And in this setting, the people of God are crying “Glory!” and are being gifted with the blessing of peace.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we learn how Paul in his journeys is continuing to teach and preach, to pray and praise, and to keep the focus on God: not just for himself, but for all whom he encounters. In asking the folks to identify their baptism, he is not trying to prove people wrong or deny them their faith, but rather to strengthen their understanding fo the true power of God. For while John the baptiser can offer them the baptism of Forgiveness – a powerful and important and holy act – it is the baptism of the Lord in which the Holy Spirit comes. This is the teaching for us all: to call upon the Triune God at the time of baptism the God who loved us into being, the Christ who saves and redeems us, and the Holy Spirit to give us the breath of life: to confirm our faith, to help us in our weakness, to speak the truth in love – to give us the gifts and skills we need to be faithful ministers for our Lord.
And thus: with those reminders fresh in our ears and hearts, we hear the words of the baptism of Jesus. In this Gospel they are simple words – no flourishes, nothing too fancy, just the details of an amazing moment: In those days, Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised by John in the Jordan.
Lovely! We can all relate to this: we are the baptised, we have participated in baptisms, we have renewed our baptism. Gorgeous.
And just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice from heaven, “you are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
Now, on it’s own, this passage is powerful. It is inspiring- literally – as it stirs our spirits within us and reminds us that this is important. It’s life-changing – it’s life-giving – it’s life-enriching. It is a celebration of life. The life of the Beloved of God, the life of the community of the faithful, the life of the witness of the baptised.
And when we consider it in context of the other passages – it only enhances how God speaks to us.
Because it takes the word of God and reminds us that God is timeless: the word of God breathed all creation into being… the word of God that speaks the psalmist’s “voice of splendour” – the word of God that spoke through Paul and through the newly baptised as they prophesied and spoke in their own languages… the Word of God made manifest in the person of Jesus Christ. The word of God – the logos – that continues to speak to us today.
And it highlights the presence of God – in every scope of all creation… in every people of every place… in every language and every ministry – on land or in water.The ethos of God is of a God who is with us at all times: in our joys and our sorrows, in our confidence and our fear, in our homes and abroad, in our youth and our aging. The entirety of our lives is a sacred opportunity to praise God.
And it embraces the pathos – that emotional reaction. From the enthusiasm of the sweeping life-giving hovering breath, to the skipping calves and shaking trees. It is the power of God that could make people who have never even heard of the Spirit, at the very name of Jesus, beg for the baptism in the name of the Trinity: and then delight in the changes that were affected in their lives. It is the humble service of John, as he ministers to the Great High Priest, an intimate sharing of the power of God, the presence of God – the person of God! Forever connecting all people in the Body of God.
The Spirit of God hovered over the waters at creation. – and all that came through it was touched, and changed.
The Spirit of God came upon the faithful at their baptism by the apostle Paul – and new life came upon them.
The Spirit of God descended – like a dove – at the waters of Jesus’ baptism – and the voice of God pronounced great pleasure with the Beloved.
And the Spirit of God descended upon you: at your birth, at your baptism – and every other moment in your life. For the waters of baptism – the flowing of God’s mercies - never run dry.
So as we renew our baptismal covenant, let us rejoice anew at the sacrament that continues to be given us, and our faithful response to being the baptised Beloved of God.
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