Sermon: Amanda Lewis, January 13, 2019

Sermon 

Amanda Lewis 

January 13, 2019 

Sermon January 13 2019 updated (2)

Psalm 29 is a fitting text for today. And not just because Baptism of the Lord Sunday this psalm calls us to remember the name of the Lord 18 times! Though we’re separated by many years and many miles, the angst that is in the background of this ancient hymn isn’t all too different than our world today.

This hymn of celebration comes from a time when Israelites were fighting with the Canaanites for control of the region- they’re fighting access to water and land, which are essential to life- but when greed enters the equation, controlling these essentials to life becomes a means of controlling other people. In the hymn the singers are likely celebrating a victory in battle and they praise God as their source of power. The singers then call others to praise their God who is like a mighty storm. They say our God is so strong and glorious that God’s voice breaks even the strongest of trees and strips the forest bare like gusts of wind.

It’s a beautifully composed song, even the text itself echoes like thunder declaring God’s glory. And it has even more layers to it as it simultaneously praises their Lord and throws some serious shade at the Canaanites. Because the Canaanites worshipped Ba’al the god of thunderstorms- and in this hymn the Israelites claim, like spoils of war, the powers of the Canaanite’s god. And they make sure that everyone knows instead that their Lord, the God of the Israelites, is the one who most powerful.

This hymn gives us a glimpse into the Israelites world: we can imagine the insecurity and uncertainty as they don’t know what the next day will hold for them much less the next year. They sing of God’s power and glory in the ways they understand power: that which can destroy, and defeat.

A storm is brewing in the days of John the Baptist, too. As John travels from town to town preaching – his words resonate with folks. There is turmoil in their souls- these Jewish folks are looking for someone to drive out these rulers which levy taxes and demand loyalty to the Roman Government and Roman gods, they long for their Messiah to come and reign as king.

John feels this longing for change too and he channels it as he talks about the one who is to follow. John describes this Messiah proclaiming “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Whew. Part of me wanted to skip over that part, it feels scary and violent. It harkens back to the psalmist’s lyrics “The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.” But it speaks to the angst of the soul that just can’t take it anymore! And that’s real.

The Israelites and the folks following John are trying to make sense of their world. If we put ourselves in their sandals, the image of God as their source of brute strength, and force who moves like a mighty storm, makes sense to folks who live in a world in which they’re fighting to survive. And for the Jewish people longing for a sense of autonomy after undergoing generations upon generations of oppression – seeking comfort in a God who is stronger than all of the Roman empire put together makes sense, too.

The psalmist and John are speaking the people’s language, and they’re all just trying to make sense of life. They’re speaking about God and God’s power in the ways they and their culture understand power. These definitions of power still resonate with many folks in our country and in our community.
And at times we too start to ascribe to God our sense of what is right and how God should work. As Anne Lamot cautions “you can safely assume that you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” We too make God in our own image and we define God’s power by our own understanding.

But we’re given a gift in Luke’s Gospel, if we’re willing to listen (this is the part the lectionary skips over). Before Herod arrested John the Baptist, John preached a prophetic message proclaiming a new way of life. And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” 11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.” 14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”

John the Baptist began laying the foundation for Jesus’ ministry introducing them to the Kingdom of God, a kingdom governed differently. John is calling for folks to share in a radical way, redistributing their wealth. And he calls for those in power to treat others justly. Not to extort or force their own way for their own ambition, desires, or greed.

This kingdom of God is different from what folks expect. It operates through a different definition of power. Even Jesus’ entrance into the world is unexpected for he enters not as reigning king with crown and scepter, but as the child of a carpenter born in a stable. Even the wise folks following the star didn’t expect this, and in their search they went first to the king who reigned in earthly power.

Many years later, on the day of Jesus’ Baptism and we find people gathered by the river, they’re talking and sharing life. Some of the folks there have decided they’re ready to sign their name, they’ve thought long and hard and they’re committed to this different way of living that John told them about. Others hearing about this new movement don’t think twice before throwing their hats into the ring. Together they splash into the river to be baptized, making waves as they wade into the water. And in the midst of this group is Jesus.

Though John’s words to describe the Messiah were a little fiery- when it’s Jesus’ turn to be baptized and he emerges from the water and begins to pray, the skies open up and we experience God – not with the force of a storm or the might of a king – but in a way that nobody standing there could’ve expected: with the fluttering of wings. Luke’s Gospel says that- the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, and said “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

At times when I’ve pictured this, I’ve imagined a bold booming voice proclaiming this message, and at other times I picture God speaking in a gentle whisper of assurance. Maybe God sounded like a mom cheering on her kid at a soccer game or a father choking back tears as he drops his child off for their first day of school. And I still wonder how many people heard those words.

But no matter the volume and cadence or how many people were paying attention, God speaks words of blessing upon Jesus and upon his ministry of bringing forth the Kingdom of God. And God’s spirit shows up embodying that ancient symbol of peace. For peace is not the opposite of power, rather peace is the product of God’s power. God’s power is not the ability to control others – but rather as we glimpse it through Jesus – it is the means to change and transform- bring healing and hope- to reflect love and wholeness into the world.

As we reflect on the Baptism of Jesus, we are invited join Jesus in living in accordance with God’s power and living out God’s kingdom. Along this journey, may we have hearts that are willing to change and transform. May we be brave enough to challenge systems that exploit those who are vulnerable and become agents of justice. And may we practice radical generosity, and speak words of blessing and healing, together reflecting God’s love and peace into the world.