AT EPIPHANY – WISE MEN GO HOME ANOTHER WAY
We too are invited to change our paths once we have met Jesus.Jesus – gives us direction today for that new path.
Baptism:
Amazed by the Spirit
Mark’s account – abrupt as ever – takes us into a shocking state of mind.
Starts with John – wow
First time this account mentions the Holy Spirit
The heavens are torn apart for the entry.
Spirit coming like a dove – not AS a dove – but some likeness.
Voice announces pleasure, Who knows who all heard it – but it’s shocking.
With John as witness:
Jesus is baptised by the Spirit – not merely the water that John was using.
Baptism in the Bible had some different nuances and practices, but the basics are the same: cleansing from sin.
Not in the sense of righting wrongs, but sin as disconnect from God – so baptism is a shocking reconnection with God, through the power of the Spirit.
And – as demonstrated by Jesus – didn’t need it, but shows us the way.
The Spirit: very important reality of our baptism.
Other readings focus on this. Because the water of baptism is not itself the gift;
The invocation and invitation to the Spirit to enter
Genesis: while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters.
Spirit hovered, pulsated, excited.
All creation has passed through this enthusiasm.
Psalm: takes this to the next level as it articulates sampling of where and how the Spirit of God is – everywhere. For everyone. For the glory of God.
Acts: reminds us all of the importance of the Spirit in our Baptism – to make it from a one-time event to a life-long celebration of ministry. Change, opportunity, potential for engagement with the people that God loves: all there, when we live in that baptism.
SO the next chapter is up to us:
How do we live out OUR baptism? Celebrate the movement of the Spirit in OUR Lives?
Because Spirit is not subtle, not passive, not
Spirit MOVES.
It’s why in our baptism we recognise we are spiritual and spirit-filled:
Spiritual – abstract ideas of essence relating to the Spirit
Spirit-filled – concrete stirring up of ways to show love and peace
How do we engage in the community? How do we share the Good News? How do we respect the dignity of every human being? How do we work for peace and justice? How do our actions reflect our faith-focus and prayerful discernment?
How do we embrace all our vows of our baptism (and every renewal since)?
We trust the Spirit.
We listen to those urges: to lead in our communities with acts of forgiveness, loving kindness, innovation, etc.
And when we do this – we too, like Jesus, lead by example.
May Spirit move you to acts of intentional love and ministry, we are all guided to the paths that God calls us on.
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