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Greetings, SBT Readers!
"I will make you a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth." Is 49:6
Here in the U.S., Monday, January 16th, is a Federal holiday honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For some, it is simply a day off -- and, inconveniently, a day when schools, libraries, and government offices are closed and there is no mail delivery. For others, it is day for remembering the life of a remarkable man whose faith led him not only to SEE the horrors of racism but also to respond to the moment in history in which he happened to be living. Because he could ENVISION a new world order of harmony and justice between the races, he undertook a rigorous course of self-preparation that included studying Mohandas Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence in India and sharing his views with political leaders and groups. His tools for bringing about change included sit-ins, protest marches, boycotts and other acts of civil disobedience, but whatever action he undertook, prayer was at the heart of all that he did. Dr King once said, "To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing." In times of doubt and anxiety, fear and discouragement, he turned to prayer; in times of weakness and emptiness, imprisonment and grief, his response was to pray. Through prayer, he was able to hold on to the vision he saw so clearly and to be a light to the nations. I invite you to pray with Dr. King and to find in the following texts the source of his greatness:
https://prayerandpolitiks.org/articles-essays-sermons/prayers-of-martin-luther-king-jr/
Many Blessings!
Elizabeth
SCRIPTURE REFLECTION
Link to the Sunday Readings
Seeing Jesus coming toward him, John the Baptist said,
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one of whom I said,
'A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.'
I did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was so he might be revealed to Israel."
Then John testified further, saying,
"I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven
and rest upon him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
'On whomever you see the Spirit come down and rest,
that is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'
Now I have seen and testify that he is the Son of God."
Jn 1:29-34
Though according to the Liturgical Calendar this is the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, today's Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a culmination of the Christmas Season, inviting us to reflect on the Adult Christ instead of the Infant Jesus. In most homes, Christmas trees have been stripped bare while tinsel and baubles have been packed away for yet another year; the magi have gone home, the shepherds are back in their fields, the manger is empty and angelic voices have fallen silent. Instead, the star leads us to the banks of the River Jordan where people from all over the region flock to John the Baptist, seeking baptism for their sins. When challenged by the authorities, John is clear that he is neither the Messiah nor Elijah nor the Prophet; instead, he is a voice crying out in the desert, "Make straight the way of the Lord" (Jn 1:23). His role, as he describes it, is to prepare the way for the coming of the Holy One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.
Each of the synoptic Gospels presents the Baptism from Jesus' perspective, describing what he sees and hears after emerging from the waters. In Matthew's Gospel, for example, we learn that "the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased'" (Mt 3:16-17). Jesus' experience-- as described by Matthew, Mark and Luke-- is so powerful that he retreats to the desert to process everything that has happened and to reflect on his mission. In contrast, John's Gospel highlights John the Baptist's experience of Jesus and doesn't specifically say that he baptized him or that Jesus even entered the waters of the Jordan. He is the one who beholds the Spirit of God descending on Jesus-- in fact, this Gospel has nothing to say about Jesus' baptismal experience at all. Because John the Baptist sees, he can testify and his epiphany moment serves as an invitation to the world to believe. In this way, then, the revelation we experienced through the Infancy Narratives reaches fulfillment and we can now focus on Jesus' ministry -- his teachings, healings and example.
Two words strike me as I read Jn 1:19-34: "preparation" and "revelation." John the Baptist "prepares the way of the Lord" not just by his testimony but also by preparing the people to receive the Christ. By publicly acknowledging their sins and being washed clean in the Jordan, those who submit to John's baptism now have clearer vision and more open hearts. Even John's own disciples can now let go of their attachment to him and follow Jesus instead. Seeing gives them permission to act, to make different life choices. And so it is with us. When we do our "inner work" on a regular basis, when we deal with the baggage we carry around with us, when we let go of the destructive patterns that block us from grace then our capacity to SEE and to make life-giving choices increases. We can see the heavens open because our vision is no longer clouded; we can hear the Divine Voice because our own petulant, narcissistic wishes and whims have now subsided. The Holy Spirit hovers overhead, ready to descend on those with open minds and open hearts who long for a better day, a better world, a future filled with possibilities-- are WE ready?
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QUESTIONS
FOR REFLECTION
* What Epiphany moments have you experienced and how have they changed you?
* What connection do YOU see between "preparation" and "revelation"?
* Why do you think John's Gospel narrates Jesus' Baptism from John the Baptist's point of view?
* If you compare the four Gospel accounts of Jesus' Baptism, what do they share in common and how do they differ?
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