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REMEMBER AND RENEW

CDL

Updated: Jan 13

For Christian churches that follow the liturgical year, we are in the season of Epiphany. The root definition of epiphany means to manifest, and in this time following Christmas, it is the manifestation of the Divine Light that has come into the world.  

It seems fitting that now the days begin to gradually lengthen after the winter solstice on December 21. The light is breaking upon us more and more each day now. It is my hope that the light is also breaking within the human heart. My hope is that whatever darkness we may experience in our individual lives – tragedy, sadness, sorrow, fear or disappointment – can be soothed by God’s light of love.

   This week most all mainline Christian churches heard the story of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River. What’s striking to me is that Jesus was baptized “with all the people.” Jesus’ public baptism was an act of solidarity with all of us. Jesus simply got in line with those who were turning to God and coming to the waters of baptism with hopes for a new beginning and a new way of life.

   I came to baptism later than some, being baptized as an adult. I still remember it clearly, and the night remains with me as one of the most important days of my life. It was March 25, 1989. I was thirty-four years old and along with a small group of my fellow adult catechumens, I was baptized at the Great Vigil of Easter at the parish of Saint Francis of Assisi in Sacramento. That evening I felt as if a completely new life had just begun, which was true. What I did not realize was just how profoundly my life changed on that Holy Vigil night. It was only in the years that followed that I would come to embrace the fullness of what it means to live into a baptismal life. The experience continues to unfold even today. 

   I think that is how it often is for many of us. We make a decision. We bring ourselves to the waters of baptism and then the process of the unfolding realization of God’s purpose for us and our response to live into our baptismal covenant as Christians begins to take shape.

For me, baptism means three things. First, we are given a fresh start – a new canvass onto which we can create or recreate our lives. Secondly, we are gathered into a community of others like us. We become Christian members of God’s global family of all faiths and traditions. Thirdly, baptism comes with work to do. In the Episcopal tradition of God’s family, we make a covenant with God that we will proclaim the Good news of God in Christ, seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves; strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being. I might add that all persons, all people, and every human being means everybody, period, no exceptions.  But it all begins and is made possible by opening our hearts to the in-flooding of God’s Divine Light that is breaking upon us in this time of Epiphany – the time of manifesting God’s love in the world.

   A new year is upon us. The coming year lies before us as an open field with many possibilities and many challenges. In many ways, we are divided from one another. Millions of people are displaced and many are living in fear. There is a great deal of uncertainty now about what things might look like next year or even next month. It feels important in this moment to open ourselves to the Light of God, to renew our relationships – with both God and our neighbor – and to recommit ourselves to the work of justice, peace, truth and love. It seems urgent now for all of us to come together now in ways that are life giving and that inspire real community. It feels crucial that we set aside our differences and work for the common good, regardless of our location in life.

   In 2007 I made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and visited the Jordan River where John baptized Jesus. When I was there, I remembered that Easter Vigil night so many years ago at Saint Francis. I thought of how I had come to baptism for healing – as a way to turn my life around – offering myself to God through the waters of baptism. In retrospect I see that at the time I did not fully realize what it would all mean for me. But God knew, and that’s all that mattered.  As I dipped my head into the River Jordan, I remembered that I have been marked as Christ’s own forever and sealed by the Holy Spirit, and I renewed my desire to keep up my end of the deal. I struggle, but I do my best, and I know that is good enough for God.

   I pray that all of us, despite our struggles, will do our best in this coming year to bring about Kingdom of God – whatever that means for you. I pray that we will all do our best to lift up all of our sisters and brothers around the world and around the corner. We may all come from different traditions, different cultures, different ways of understanding God, but we are all God’s people. I pray that we would all realize the Divine Light of Love that is within us. I pray that we would all know that we are beloved by God, not because we were consecrated in any particular faith, but simply because we were born.

   The future belongs to all of us. Let us move into the coming year with a singular vision of hope for the common good of all people and all things. As the psalmist says:

 

How good and wonderful it is when people live in unity.


Brother Dennis

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