Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:13-17
Last weekend, between the clergy retreat and our deanery gathering, I had a chance to go out to the Glacier in Juneau. This is a sight that people from all over the world came to see. The glacier itself has receded over the years from global warming. The water is profoundly cold and small pieces of the glacier which have broken off float in the chilly water. It is a very sacred place, where the Creator's touch is profoundly felt. A place where one can see such beauty and be moved by how much damage humans can do.
Jesus came out to a sacred place where John was baptizing. John initially did not want to baptize him but finally went ahead reluctantly. As Jesus came up from the water, a voice from heaven was heard, declaring that this was the child of God, the son of the living Divine, beloved and honored. The intimate love of God was declared in that moment for Jesus and for the world. This a is sacred moment, when the Creator reaches across time and space to speak the love needed to be heard. This first baptism, through which all of us are baptized, remind us that God's love is for us all, God reaching across time and space for the love of the world.
Today I ask God to help me live in the love and blessing we have been given. May we return the love and respect we have been given by lovingly care for the sacred places we have been given. May we be faithful stewards of the Creator's love, caring for the love and honor we have been given today.
Last weekend, between the clergy retreat and our deanery gathering, I had a chance to go out to the Glacier in Juneau. This is a sight that people from all over the world came to see. The glacier itself has receded over the years from global warming. The water is profoundly cold and small pieces of the glacier which have broken off float in the chilly water. It is a very sacred place, where the Creator's touch is profoundly felt. A place where one can see such beauty and be moved by how much damage humans can do.
Jesus came out to a sacred place where John was baptizing. John initially did not want to baptize him but finally went ahead reluctantly. As Jesus came up from the water, a voice from heaven was heard, declaring that this was the child of God, the son of the living Divine, beloved and honored. The intimate love of God was declared in that moment for Jesus and for the world. This a is sacred moment, when the Creator reaches across time and space to speak the love needed to be heard. This first baptism, through which all of us are baptized, remind us that God's love is for us all, God reaching across time and space for the love of the world.
Today I ask God to help me live in the love and blessing we have been given. May we return the love and respect we have been given by lovingly care for the sacred places we have been given. May we be faithful stewards of the Creator's love, caring for the love and honor we have been given today.
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