Sermon for Year C Epiphany 2

CHANGES

We are gospel hopping during Epiphany.

On the Feast of the Epiphany 

we heard from Matthew

as the magi traveled in search for the Messiah

who turns out to be a baby.

Last week

we were in Luke’s gospel--

the Baptism of Christ.

This week we have jumped over to the gospel of John

and we hear about the wedding in Cana

and Jesus turning water into wine.

I don’t believe we will hear from the Gospel of Mark

during the Epipany season

but hearing from three out of four of the gospels

makes it a rich and diverse season.

If you are a fan of the PBS program Downton Abbey,

as I am,

but have missed the first two episodes of Season 3

I may need to issue a spoiler alert for the next part of my sermon.

If you don’t know the program Downton Abbey at all,

I can tell you that it has nothing to do with a religious abbey

and I haven’t seen a single monk in any of the seasons.

Downtown Abbey is the name of a large house and estate--really large--

think bigger than Biltmore Estate large.

Downton is owned and occupied by Lord and Lady Grantham.

They live there with their adult children, 

a variety of others who stop in now and again.

and a diverse group of servants. 

Lots of servants.

It is one of these servants that kept creeping into my thoughts

as I prepared this sermon.

Mr. Carlson is the Butler at Downton.

He is traditional to a fault, loves the old way of doing things,

does not like change

and is absolutely loyal and devoted to the family he serves.

All the male staff report to Mr. Carson.

Mr. Carson is in charge of the pantry, 

the dining room, and the wine cellar.

Mr. Carson has a kind heart but extremely rigorous standards.

I kept seeing Mr. Carson as the wine steward 

in today’s gospel.

That he tastes the water turned to wine

and is so surprised that he goes immediately to Lord Grantham

to point out how unusual this is.

Lord Grantham, sir,

we have an unusual situation here.

This wine...

What is it, Carson?

Well, your Lordship, we usually serve the more inferior wine

once the guests are quite--uh, might I say--tipsy?

But this wine which we are about to put out--

Yes?

Well, Lord Grantham, it is quite excellent.

In fact, quite a bit more excellent a vintage than what we served

the guests when they first arrived.

Lord Grantham trusts Mr. Carson

and values his opinion.

That is true of the steward in John’s gospel today as well.

It is the steward in today’s gospel--

his surprise when he tastes the wine--

that tells us

that something unusual has happened.

We trust him.

We value his opinion.

We know he is telling the truth.

Not only has the water been changed into wine,

the water has been changed into magnificent wine.

Remember? Epiphany is about shining light

onto Jesus being no ordinary human being--

yes, human.

But also, yes, absolutely divine.

The changing of the water into wine

is the first miracle Jesus performs.

We need to think of these moments--

following a star to find a baby in a manger,

the heavens breaking open 

        as Jesus prays right after his baptism,

changing water into wine--

these are “thin place” moments.

Moments when heaven and earth intersect--

right before our eyes.

In John’s gospel they are called “signs”.

The water into wine is the first of Jesus’ signs.

Jesus’ mother is there with him.

She is never named--she is only referred to as his mother.

It’s not surprising that she is there, too.

The tradition of that time

would have been to invite the whole village.

There would not have been a guest list---

everyone was welcome, invited.

And probably--because weddings were usually multi-day feasts,

everyone would have wanted to be there,

to eat, drink, be merry and celebrate.

Running out of wine

would not have been just bad planning 

but a disgrace for the family.

It would have remained an embarrassment for a long long time.

Some might have looked on it as a very bad omen

for the bride and groom and their married life together.

Running out of wine

would have been a disaster.

Jesus’ mother understands this.

She doesn’t tell him WHAT to do

but it is implicit that she wants him to do something

when she tells him they are running out of wine.

Oh, and then that moment when Jesus responds

and calls her “Woman”.

I don’t know about you,

but if I had ever addressed my mother as “Woman”

I don’t know if I would have lived long enough

to be standing here in this pulpit!

Yet that comment to his mother

lets us know quite clearly that Jesus is no longer a child.

He is coming into his own.

It is happening right before our eyes.

His mother also knows he is no longer a child either

and she knows that he is no ordinary person.

She tells the servants to 

“Do whatever he tells you.”

His mother knows.

His mother knows

that Jesus can--and will--do more

than just transform water into wine.

Jesus can transform us.
Jesus can take what is ordinary

and transform that ordinary into extraordinary.

Jesus came to transform the world.

That is our call as well.

There are some Episcopal billboards going up around the country--

we are trying to get some for Western NC too--

they simply say this:

Love God.

Love your neighbor.

Change the world.

Because with love

anything is possible.

Jesus did not change the water into wine to be a show off,

to do a magic trick as entertainment.

He did this because he had compassion, love 

for that family, that bride and groom--for his mother.

Jesus did not want the wedding to be a disaster.

He cared about people.

Yes, the story is here in John’s gospel as a sign,

to show us that Jesus could do anything--and did.

It is also a sign for the future--

another third day will come.

When everything looks hopeless,

resurrection will come.

The time is not yet

but it is sooon.

But now, it’s the season of Epiphany.

Once more we see the Light coming into ordinary life.

Jesus’ mother gives good advice.

Do whatever he tells you.

Do whatever he tells you.

We are called to use our gifts--

and, as we heard in the reading from Paul’s first letter

to the Corinthians,

our gifts are many and they are wonderfully diverse.

We are called  

to use our gifts, to do whatever God calls us to do,

to go wherever God leads us,

and to love all those we meet along the journey.

Love God.

Love your neighbor.

Change the world.

I think even Mr. Carson
would approve of change
when love is at the heart of it.

Sermon for Year C Epiphany 1

Washing up for God

I was a teenager

and I was riding with my mother from Raleigh

where we lived

down to Wendell to see my grandparents.

As we drove along old Hwy 64

my mother pointed to a river that ran near the highway.

“Right over there--right at that spot in the river--

that’s where I was baptized.”

She had never pointed that out before 

and she never pointed it out again.

I was too young or too into my own adolescence

to be all that interested that day

or to ask any questions.

I regret that now.

Because I can’t remember the place on the river,

the place where my mother was baptized

and I wish I could.

But what really matters 

is that my mother remembered the place.

She knew the where of her baptism

because it mattered to her.

The place of Jesus’ baptism

obviously was important to the writers of the four gospels.

Matthew, Mark and Luke

all explicitly describe Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River.

The gospel of John doesn’t describe the baptism 

but refers to it implicitly.

Today we celebrate the Baptism of Christ.

Christ’s baptism in the Jordan River.

Remember, we are in the season of Epiphany

and Epiphany is chock full of events

that shine light upon Jesus’ divinity.

This is no ordinary fellow the scripture keeps telling us.

No ordinary fellow.

So why then did Jesus need to be baptized?

Scholars and ordinary folks have wrestled and theorized

about this question

for centuries.

First a little background information:

The word baptism comes from the Greek word 

which means “washing.”

That’s right--”washing.”

Washing rituals were important.

Not only to the ancient Hebrews

but to many other ancient religions.

The washing of vessels used for food,

the washing of hands before eating,

the ritual washing by women at the end of their monthly cycle.

We read about these washing rituals in scripture

as well as other historical writings.

These washings were not for the purpose of getting physically clean--

they were for the purpose of getting spiritually clean--

preparing body, mind, spirit and all things surrounding

to receive God’s presence, to welcome God’s action.

One of these ritual washings

was used for someone who wanted to convert to Judaism.

At the time when Jesus lived,

there were several different sectarian Jewish communities.

The Pharisees and the Sadduces were essentially city dwellers.

They followed the tradition which said

 if your mother is Jewish, you are Jewish. 

Thus, no ritual washing, no baptism,

was needed for your conversion.

But another one of these groups was the Essenes.

They lived in the desert.

We best know the Essenes as those who authored and saved

what we call the “Dead Sea scrolls”

Some Essenes believed that everyone

needed a ritual washing,

even those who were, by tradition, already Jews.

They felt that the washing, the baptism,

was symbolic of their conversion and purification.

Archaelogical digs at the Essene community near the Dead Sea

have found large pool-shaped depressions

where these ritual baths, these baptisms,

probably occurred.

So you see, 

not everyone was baptized in a river.

Some believe that John the Baptist 

was a member of the Essene community.

Scripture and other writings do not confirm this

nor do they deny this. 

But certainly John lived an ascetic lifestyle like the Essenes

and he lived in the desert.

It is very possible that John was a member 

of this early Christian community 

which called for the baptism of all converts,

for everyone, even those who were born in Judaism.

And this leads us back to the question:

Why did Jesus need baptizing at all?

After all,

his mother was Jewish.

He was not an Essene--

he grew up in Nazareth in Galilee,

not in the Dead Sea area.

Plus if Jesus was the Son of God,

if Jesus was completely without sin

which is what we hear repeatedly throughout the New Testament writing,

why did Jesus need to be baptized?

There are a lot of theories from a diverse variety of scholars--

here are just a few:

THEORY # 1: 

Jesus and John plotted together to do this 

to get attention

for Jesus’ ministry.

Hmmmm...I don’t think I am going to buy this theory.

It sounds a little too much like a 21st century PR campaign

and it just doesn’t ring true to me.

THEORY # 2:

Jesus got baptized to please his mother.

This was suggested in an ancient text 

(the non-canonical Gospel of the Hebrews)

but it wasn’t even accepted by the early church

and isn’t likely to hold water (no pun intended)

even today.

THEORY # 3:

Jesus submitted to baptism 

as a foreshadowing of his death and resurrection---

Now this theory makes more theological sense--

in baptism,

you go under the water (death), 

and you are raised back up again (resurrection). 

This is some of the theology behind full immersion baptism--

but we have no proof that Jesus’ baptism was full immersion.

We believe that was the early tradition

but already by the 3rd century baptism was primarily by pouring

or even just sprinkling with water 

as part of the washing ritual.

The oldest icons of this baptism event 

show Jesus standing in the Jordan River, 

the water barely up to his mid-calf 

and John is pouring water over his head. 

He is not being “dunked.”

THEORY # 4:

Jesus came to represent all of sinful humanity

and his baptism represented the washing away of all sins.

Again, there is theological soundness to this theory,

but the problem with this theory is

John was not primarily baptizing for repentance,

the TURNING AWAY from sin--

yes, that was part of it,

BUT John’s was much more a TURNING TOWARD--

turning toward the coming kingdom of God.

John the Baptizer’s mission was to prepare the way 

for the Messiah to come,

not to just cleanse humanity 

but to get them ready to receive.

So why did Jesus go to be baptized?

Perhaps for much of the same reason

we bring a baby to be baptized 

or we go to be baptized ourselves.

Baptism makes us part of a community--

a community of people who love God

and believe that God loves them.

A community of people 

who commit to trying their hardest 

to love one another, too.

A community of people 

who desires justice and peace 

and respects the dignity 

of every human being.

Through baptism

we are given new birth

by water and the Holy Spirit.

And so was Jesus.

He was given new birth

because his baptism marks the beginning

of his public ministry.

God promised John

the Messiah was coming 

and God gave John some ways to identify Him.

John looked at Jesus

and what he saw was God’s promise fulfilled.

Jesus chose to be baptized

as a confirmation, fulfillment of what God had promised.

Jesus did not go to the Temple to be baptized.

Jesus went to his crazy cousin, this radical preacher John.

Jesus went to the river.

The river Jordan.

The waters of the Jordan River,

just like the waters of the Red Sea in the book of Exodus

represent all that is chaotic, all that can pull us under and drown us.

But chaos does not win.

The Hebrew people make it through the Red Sea

and escape the chaos of oppression.

Joshua leads the Israelites over the Jordan River,

out of the chaos of the wilderness

into the promised land.

Both the names Jesus and Joshua

come from the Hebrew “y’shua”

which means “God saves.”

Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan River 

shows us once more 

that God is with us.

Sometimes the river rages,

threatening to overflow the banks.

Sometimes the river moseys along gently, peacefully.

Just like our lives,

the river is constantly moving, always changing.

But one thing never changes:

The love God has for each one of us.

A love so deep, so immense, so full of light

that it can never be washed away.

Never.

Not ever. 

Feast of St. John Apostle and Evangelist

I admit it.
Sometimes I post out of order.
But I didn't want to leave out this one.

The parish I serve in Asheville is St. John's,
named after the Apostle and Evangelist.
St. John's feast day is December 27th.
Let's face it.
That is not a great day to celebrate a patron saint--
right after multiple Christmas eve services, a Christmas day service
plus folks being out of town
or just worn out from the holidays.

But this year was such an exception.
I did not preach.
Instead, St. John showed up at church
and he preached.
Oh my! Did he ever preach!
With words and without words.

Using a monologue from Katerina Whitley's
magnificent LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS,
St. John walked into the church,
made his way to the pulpit
and had every one of us in the congregation
spell-bound.

Little children, love one another.
That is really the message of St. John.

We deeply felt those words that Sunday morning.
John arrived filled with the Spirit
and Spirit was abundantly shared.

St. John,
come back any time.

Sermon for the Feast of the Epiphany

Celebrating Light

It is definitely on my "bucket list"
to celebrate Epiphany in Tarpon Springs, Florida one year.

Tarpon Springs is on the west coast of Florida,

on the Gulf of Mexico.

It is not a big place--less than 25,000 residents.

Tarpon Springs has the highest percentage

of Greek Americans of any other city in the United States.

Ten thousand people will descend upon 

the little town of Tarpon Springs, Florida this weekend.

Tarpon Springs also has a nickname:

Epiphany City.

This is why so many people will be in town this weekend.

They have a tradition--

also celebrated in Greece--

this will be Tarpon Springs' 107th celebration of Epiphany.

Yes, there is a liturgical side--

there will be multiple church services and many prayers, 

But truly, everything that happens this weekend is liturgy

especially to the Greek Orthodox Christians in Tarpon Springs.

But there is a very special event. The dive.

A priest will bless a small handmade white wooden cross

and then toss it into Spring Bayou,

one of the many bayous that connect into the Gulf at Tarpon Springs.

Then young people between the ages of 16 and 18

will dive into the water--

and yes, even water in Florida in January is COLD--

they will dive and try to recover the cross.

The one who finds the cross first

is said to receive a very special blessing from God.

A blessing that lasts their entire life.

Did you miss that part in Matthew’s gospel today

about diving into cold water to retrieve a small wooden cross?

Probably not.

You see, as Episcopalians,

from the Western Christian tradition,

we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany a little differently.

Epiphany is most familiar to us as a celebration of the magi--

“We three kings of Orient are...”

There they are on the banner that Betty Hayes

created for St. John’s...

“bearing gifts we traverse afar...”

But in the Eastern Christian tradition

the Feast of the Epiphany is the celebration of the baptism of Jesus.

Thus, you can see the connection

between diving into the waters in Tarpon Springs

and coming up with a cross.

Regardless of how we celebrate this feast day,

January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany,

this day signals the official end of the Christmas season.

The 12 days of Christmas are over.

No more partridges in pear trees,

or ladies dancing 

or drummers drumming.

What are we celebrating on this day?

We are celebrating a revelation.

Jesus is revealed to be not just for the Hebrew people--

but for all people.

The Magi were Gentiles, maybe even pagans.

But even they,

even they knew 

that this Jesus was no ordinary baby.

God has come down to live among us in human form.

There are three events that Christendom attaches to Epiphany--

The first is what we heard in Matthew’s gospel today--

the wise men follow a star and find a miracle.

A baby. The son of God.

The second event is the baptism of Jesus.

Again, and we Episcopalians will celebrate this event next week,

the divinity of Jesus is revealed to the world--

“This is my son...”

And the third event is the changing of the water into wine

at the wedding in Cana,

again showing us that Jesus is no ordinary fellow.

We are going to visit this event in two weeks.

You see today is the FEAST of the Epiphany

but we are about to enter a SEASON of Epiphany,

a season of revelation,

a season of light breaking through the darkness,

a season of coming up from the deep waters into the light.

Christmas is over. Even for us Episcopalians.

We are going to have to go back out into the world--

some of us already have--

back to work, back to school, back to “real life”--

and for some it feels like

going back into darkness--

deadlines and over-scheduled calendars,

complex family dynamics,

separations and loss.

Epiphany calls us to celebrate light--

not just one feast day of light,

but a season--four solid weeks plus a few days

of Epiphany.

Epiphany says, “Well, yes and no.”

Yes, Christmas is over 

but no, we are not plunged back into darkness.

Epiphany says, “There is more than meets the eye.”

Just look at what is being revealed through this baby, Jesus.

Epiphany says, “Follow me.”

The wise magi listened

and people have continued to listen for over 2000 years.

Epiphany says, “God may call us to journey to new places,

to discover new parts of the world.

new parts of ourselves.”

Epiphany says,” We may go home

But by a different way. 

Sometimes plans need to change.

Epiphany is full of surprises.

Epiphany offers us the opportunity to celebrate light. 

We need that.

We especially need that this year.

Hurricane Sandy. 

Sandy Hook Elementary School.

The illnesses and sorrows and deaths

that many of us have had to deal with in our own lives.

We need a time of year,

a liturgical season,

that reminds us

that the Light of the world is right here.

Right here.

We need Epiphany to remind us

to let our little lights shine.

It’s why we chose the hymn we will sing at communion

throughout the season of Epiphany.

This little light of mine

I’m going to let it shine...

T.S. Eliot describes it in his poem

THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI

begins that poem with these lines:

A cold coming we had of it,

Just the worse time of the year

For a journey, and such a long journy

The ways deep and the weather sharp...

You see, the magi risked the darkness

because they believed in the light,

the light of a star

led them to the light of the world.

I doubt it was an easy journey

but it was a journey they felt was worth taking.

Their kind and compassionate hearts

led them to choose not to return to Herod--

though there likely would have been great financial rewards,

plus prestige and power.

But these wise ones chose 

to go home by another way.

When T. S. Eliot wrote his poem THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI

he had just converted to Christianity.

Perhaps the poem reflects his own journey

as he moved more deeply into a relationship with God,

with the God he had long doubted even existed.

Light transforms the darkness.

Light transforms us.

Back to Tarpon Springs, Florida.

About ten years ago, the church there noticed

that the Epiphany dive was becoming more of an athletic event

than an opportunity for young people to reflect spiritually 

on baptism and the cross.

The leaders in the church did not want the dive to be about competition.

So now any young person who wants to dive

attends weekly classes

which include writing about their faith.

Attendance at the classes and at church each week

is mandatory. 

Families and the Church and the community 

care about these young people

These young people are asked to reflect 

on five ways they display their love for God each day.

They are asked to name three talents that God has given them 

and how they are using their gifts to serve--

to serve their family, their church, their community, their neighbors.

Epiphany is a good season for all of us to reflect 

on the ways God has brought light into our lives.

Look around.

Look around this church.

Look at all the light.

Look for the light in your life,

in the world.

Epiphany is a good season to reflect 

on what we are doing each day

to bring light into the lives of others.

God blesses each of us with light--

maybe it is only a little light--

but even a little light

        has the power to transform the darkness.

Epiphany calls us to dive deeply

      into the darkness

      in search of the light,
      the Light of the world.