Last week we participated in the
baptisms of Leoni, Lila, and Dean. Last week we reaffirmed our own
baptismal vows by promising to continue in worship, prayers,
repentance, evangelism; in seeking Christ in all people, to strive
for justice, and to respect the dignity of every human being. Last
week we celebrated with two families as those three children were
adopted into the household of God. And last week we saw the church
at its best.
Today our gospel lesson follows what
passes for Jesus' baptismal account in John; much like our liturgy
today follows a baptism story in the life of this parish. As we move
through this post-baptismal story, notice how much emphasis the
gospel passage places on what is seen.
John declares that he saw the Spirit
descending from heaven like a dove and alighting on Jesus. This
vision is a confirmation of a message from God that he would see this
event, to which John testifies that he did indeed see it.
The next day he sees Jesus walking by
and he proclaims him to be the Lamb of God. Two of his disciples
then go and follow Jesus, who turns and sees them.
He asks, “What are you looking for?”
They in turn ask him, “Where are you staying?” He responds,
“Come and see.” And they went and saw.
Andrew then goes and invites his
brother to also come and see what they saw. Jesus looks at Simon and
sees Peter.
There is a lot of seeing going on.
This theme of seeing is especially appropriate here in this season of
Epiphany.
The Feast of the Epiphany, or the
Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles, is all about seeing. The
wise men saw the star and followed it to Bethlehem and the house of
Mary and Jesus. Upon entering the house they saw the child.
So here we are in this season of seeing
with a gospel where seeing is a major theme. In this time of seeing,
in this time of Epiphany and epiphanies, what do we see?
What do we see in the world around us?
I see a world that lives in fear and
anger.
I see a world too quick to use
violence.
I see a world where those in power
strive to keep that power rather than help the powerless.
I see a world where minorities of every
kind are punished for so-called moral failings.
I see a world where justice is based on
the color of your skin or the size of your bank account.
What do we see in the Church,
particularly in this specific part of the Church we call St. John's?
I see a community that is hopeful.
I see a place that strives for
understanding.
I see a place where people use their
position to reach out to others.
I see a place that recognizes we all
fall short and help each other up.
I see a place that proclaims all are
equal in the eyes of God and works to respect the dignity of every
human being.
The Season of Epiphany is all about
seeing the kingdom of God in the world as well as seeing the presence
of Christ in our midst.
With the ever present difference
between what we see in the world and what can be seen in the best of
the Church, how can we go about doing this? As Episcopalians, I
think we have an advantage because we are able to fall back on and
continually reference our baptismal covenant.
Will you make worship and prayer a
priority in your life?
Will you resist the evil of racism,
sexism, misogyny, domestic violence, and sin of every kind?
Will you recognize that resisting evil
may mean standing up, speaking out, and actively opposing evil when
you see it played out in everything from swastikas painted on
synagogues to “harmless” jokes told by a friend or co-worker?
Will you evangelize and, like Andrew,
make the move to bring someone into this community?
Will you see Christ in all persons,
Republican and Democrat, rich and poor, black and white, gay and
straight, male and female?
Will you respect the dignity of every
human being?
These are hard things to do. But we do
them here first. We learn to see this place as a manifestation of
the kingdom of God. And when we get good at seeing God present here
and in each other, we can then go out and work to transform the
world; because the world as I see it now needs our help.
Fifty-four years ago our country was
also in turmoil. The sins of racism and white supremacy were visible
everywhere. Fifty-four years ago a man stood up not far from here to
proclaim a vision and dream he had seen. And although he was a
Baptist, his dream could have come directly from our baptismal
covenant. It was a dream that resisted evil. It was a vision where
people loved their neighbor regardless of skin color. It was a dream
and vision where justice prevailed and all people were respected for
who they were.
Fifty-four years later we are still
chasing that dream. Two thousand years later, we are still being
asked to come and see for ourselves. And in both cases, we are still
asked to invite people to join us and see the manifestation of God in
the world.
John saw the Lamb of God.
Andrew saw the Messiah.
Jesus saw Simon for who he really was.
Martin Luther King, Jr. saw a vision of
respect, dignity, and equality for all people.
In this Epiphany season, where do you
see the kingdom of God in your life, in this church, and in the
world?
Amen.
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