Readings: Isaiah 42:1-9
Matthew 3:13-17
We pray: may the
words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in your sight
o God, our rock and our sustainer. Amen.
It has been for me
a week of deep conversations, me with God, me with me, me with some of
you. I hope that you too have had good
conversations these few weeks. I hope
some have been beautifully nonsensical, some nostalgic, some challenging, some
creative, some productive. I value
conversations – and I think that it is absolutely clear that I would have
trouble not being able to speak for any long period of time. Having said that I also value silence –
shutting out the jabber of the world and of our own babbling and listening to
God in the huge space left when we mute our own voice.
So it is not surprise
that I find myself trying to imagine the conversations that actually go on in
the sometimes limited, often cursory version of stories and encounters we hear. For whatever reason, maybe through a desire
for conciseness or perhaps an inability to notice the other conversations, or
the desire to point us in a certain direction, I often feel that the lack of a
complete story. And I especially do this
in the stories that we hear from Scripture – and I think it is no bad thing to be
always seeking for the back story, the nuances of language, the eyebrows
raised, the asides and the unspoken emotions. One technique well used is to hear
another take on the story, place it in a different context, maybe a
contemporary one that we can more easily place ourselves in, one that shakes us
up in a different way, allows us to re-imagine.
Today we have the
story of Jesus being baptised – a few short sentences to tell of one of the pivotal
moments in his life. This reading invites
us to think about what baptism means for us; that we all are drawn in to the
waters of new life, again and again through the grace and love of Jesus. It tells
us beyond doubt that we are loved, valued and encouraged in faith. It tells us that, in the power of the Spirit,
we are to be the light of the love to Christ to the each other and the world.
It is a moment of new
beginning: of committed relationship, of deep conversation and connection with
God and, most importantly for us today – the promise of walking in the way of truth
and light in a world of great need. And
that promise can get lost or weakened to the point of nothingness - not necessarily intentionally but through
all those self-doubts, excessive expectations, fear of getting it wrong, sense
of inadequacy for the task ahead.
When I came across
this story that I am going to share with you in a moment, it reminded me of my
once long held assumptions that I didn’t deserve to be part of a in depth
conversation with God, that I was not good enough, skilled enough, deserving
enough to warrant the relationship or be the light of Christ in the world.
Even now, at this
stage of my ministry, I find it difficult to accept that God could say to me: Well done you good and faithful servant or This is my daughter, my beloved, with whom
I am well pleased.
This story and
poem by Tom Gordon challenges us to accept that we too are blessed as we commit
our lives to God, reminds us that our baptism is a living daily reality, gives
us courage to step up as the light of Christ despite our misgivings and
feelings of inadequacy.
Read Marty’s Baptism by Tom Gordon from Welcoming Each Wonder Wild Goose
Publications 2010 p.50
Poem by Tom Gordon
Don’t ask me to stand in front of the crowd…..
I’ll have nothing to say;
and, even if I do, they won’t like it anyway.
Go on. Give it a go. Put your toe in the water.
I believe in you
Don’t ask me to perform miracles….
That’s not my style;
and even if it was, it wouldn’t make any difference
anyway.
Come on. You can do it. You’ve
got more to offer than you’ll ever know.
I believe in you.
Don’t ask me to do clever things…..
That’s not me;
and, even if it was, it wouldn’t be as good as the
others anyway.
Carry on. You can do it. Just be yourself.
I believe in you.
Don’t ask me to carry huge expectations….
The load’s not light enough for me;
and, even if it was, I’m not sure I want this burden
anyway.
Sign on. You can do it. You’ve
got the strength you need.
I believe in you.
Don’t ask….
I will.
Don’t expect….
I will.
Don’t believe…
I will.
For you are my beloved; in
you I am well pleased.
This is your baptism……
Come on!
I believe in you.
Margaret Garland
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