Sunday, January 11, 2015 (Baptism of the Lord)

Sunday, January 11, 2015 (Baptism of the Lord)   

John 1:1-7, 19-20. 29-34

On Christmas Eve, the prologue of John's Gospel was read in many of our Churches, a proclamation of the eternal Word of God becoming among us, source of our being and life, light that shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it. 

We then heard that John came to tell that this light was now becoming apparent in our world and among us, and when questioned by the religious authorities he replied that he was not that light but a messenger. The following day, spotting his cousin Jesus coming towards him, he testifies that Jesus is this Light, phrasing it in the terms "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the World". 

Sin for me is the brokenness and darkness that we find within the Cosmos, but which is dispelled by the Light of God. John speaks of Jesus as being both the bearer and the baptizer of this Light, this Holy Spirit. The fact that God's holy Spirit descended like a dove upon Jesus was a recognition by John  that God was in our midst, in the presence and person of Jesus.

As we ponder this encounter and testimony of John's, may this reality also become our own story, our awareness of our own life open to baptism, the infilling and indwelling of God's presence, the Spirit of Christ, within each of us, giving us the grace and courage to shine and to share this Light, that overcomes all darkness, all brokenness.

- Archdeacon Ken Cardwell