Epiphany 1(C) + Baptism of the Lord + Veni Sancte Spiritus + 1.10.16

(discerninghearts.com)

M. Campbell-Langdell

All Santos, Oxnard

(Isaiah 43:1–7; Ps. 29; Acts 8:14–17; St. Luke 3:15–17, 21–22)

Veni Sancte Spiritus… Veni Sancte Spiritus… Come, Holy Spirit…

I remember the echo of these haunting words moving through my body, vibrating through the wood near the altar of the cathedral, on which I was lying prostrate. Although my posture and that of my peers was one of great humility, a recognition of the wondrous and fearful action that was about to occur, our ordination into the priesthood of the Episcopal Church, to be honest in that moment I felt an almost mystical sense of being held in the Spirit. I felt that mass of worshippers chanting, invoking the Spirit’s presence, beseeching that same Spirit to bless our ministries, to work in and through us as priests. I could have stayed there forever, but instead I stood up, those six years ago, because there was something to be done, and it has been an amazing journey ever since, and even before.

Because today is the Baptism of our Lord, one of the traditional days in which we baptize in the church, we have a baptism at our Spanish service today, of a boy named Andres. And as we were doing the baptism preparation this Friday, I did a quick summary of the sacramental rites with the parents and godparents, and for Andres’ benefit also. When we got to the discussion of ordination, it was pointed out that that didn’t seem like a sacrament for the people, since only priests, deacons and bishops experience it. Like marriage, it may not be a sacrament all of us participate in. However, remembering back to that moment, prostrate on the wood floor near the altar at St. John’s Cathedral, I must beg to differ. Because, you see, the people were participating in it. The community was calling the Spirit, asking the Spirit to be present. Because without community and the Spirit, you can’t be baptized, or make a priest or deacon. We all somehow participate.

Some may ask: why did Jesus need a baptism if he was already the Son of God? Was it perhaps to show us a way to enter his family, the family of God? Was it a way to follow him? Some commentators say that in Luke-Acts, Jesus is really a model of how to live a Christian life.[1] He is baptized, so we are baptized. He shows us the way.

And notice—Jesus is baptized, and he prays. He prays and the Spirit shows up. The disciples do the same in the passage from Acts, after those in Samaria are baptized. And the Spirit shows up. Now, this is Jesus’ prayer, but remember, Jesus is also modeling here, so isn’t it also perhaps the prayer of those gathered, that invites the Spirit to come and be present in such a dramatic fashion? Jesus prays, and the people pray, and the Spirit shows up, tearing through the clouds to tell us about God’s beloved son.

So a little later today at the baptism, Andres will be presented and as his parents and godparents speak on his behalf, we will remember our own vows and those that parents or godparents may have said on our behalf if we do not recall it ourselves. We will walk this journey, the one we see in today’s gospel, with Andres. We will walk the journey of repentance. When the godparents say “we renounce Satan, the evil powers of the world, and sinful desires,” we will renounce those things once more with them. We will remember John the Baptist saying repent, calling us to leave behind those things in our lives that enslave us.

When the godparents and parents say “we turn to Jesus Christ,” we will remember John the Baptist, pointing to Jesus the Christ, and saying, “Look to him!” And in the baptism, we will also be thinking of John the Baptist and Jesus at the shore.

But let us also remember to pray. Jesus prayed. The crowd around him prayed. And the Spirit showed up. Our collective prayer leaves open a door for the Holy Spirit to break in, and to work.

Without prayer, we are simply moving through the ritualistic motions. But with it, we let the Holy Spirit take this moment, and transform it. We let the Holy Spirit transform our lives. I have experienced this in my baptism, and in my ordination. I pray Andres feels it today, and that we each feel it afresh as we remember our baptisms.
And so, in a moment, instead of reciting the Nicene Creed, let us renew our own baptismal covenant, praying for Andres and for all to be baptized in the whole church of Christ today. After a pause, let us open our prayer books to page 304 and affirm our faith together. Let us do the work of ritual, but let us also pray. And may the Holy Spirit work in each of us to do more than we can ask or imagine. Veni Sancte Spiritus. Amen.

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[1] Ron Allen, “Commentary on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22,” from Working Preacher, for January 10, 2016: http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=2709.