The First Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 11, 2009
BCP: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 89:1-29 or 89:20-29; Acts 10:34-38; Mark 1:7-11
RCL: Gen. 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11
With Advent and Christmas behind us, the feast of our Lord’s baptism reveals a “mature” savior, one who can actually be effective on our behalf. It’s nice to sing carols about our “newborn King,” but before he could become either a redeemer or a king, Jesus had to grow up.
A few weeks from now, we will begin that part of our yearly cycle in which we anticipate and celebrate the paschal mystery. Our celebration of the Lord’s baptism helps prepare us for that very important work. In it, we see that the inauguration of Jesus’ ministry in his baptism is a model for the inauguration of our ministry in our baptism.
Many Christians hold a misleading and counterproductive mental model in which the Church is like a large HMO. The clergy, along with a few key lay leaders and volunteers, are like the medical staff. Ordinary church members are like the patients. What does this model give us? Clergy and lay leaders who are overworked and constantly on the edge of burnout!
At his baptism, Jesus inaugurates his public ministry. He’s now a man with a mission. And our mission is not really anything less. If we need to flesh out the details, we need look no further than our baptismal promises. That’s our mission; that’s our shared ministry.
After his baptism, Jesus discovered that his Father had blessed him abundantly, through the Holy Spirit, for the work he had taken on. And since his baptism and ministry make up the model for our baptism and ministry, that’s what we need to be about as well. For us, the discovery of our ministerial gifts and the exercise of those gifts is critical. It’s the only way the Church can continue to exist.
Remember, that HMO model needs to be thrown out. Is it not time, rather, for a flourishing church culture that is grounded in the notion that “all members are ministers”? We have certainly begun to make that shift. It’s a positive development that, in the popular vocabulary of Episcopalians, we have largely dropped the use of the word “minister” to refer to an ordained member of the clergy. All baptized persons are called to ministry.
The Spirit rested on Jesus at his baptism, taking the form of a dove, and the voice of the Father approved him: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” The Spirit also rests on us, and the voice of the Father gives his approval of our ministry.
Look It Up
What is distinctive or different about Mark’s account of our Lord’s baptism when compared with the other evangelists? (See Matthew 3:13-17, Luke 3:21- 22, John 1:32-33)
Think About It
How would you describe your ministry? How might others describe it?
Next Sunday
The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 18, 2009
BCP: 1 Sam. 3:1-10 (11-20); Psalm 63:1-8; 1 Cor. 6:11b-20; John 1:43-51
RCL: 1 Sam. 3:1-10 (11-20); Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17; 1 Cor. 6:12-20; John 1:43-51
