"You Are My Child, the Beloved"

Sermon by The Rev. Cindy Carter

January 7, 2024

Today is the first Sunday of the season after the Epiphany. In the church calendar, this is a season of variable length, determined by when Easter will be celebrated. Some years the season is short and some years it is longer. Just yesterday, I learned from a piece written by parishioner David Baines, that in ancient times before printed calendars, the date of Easter would be officially announced at the Feast of the Epiphany, which we celebrated yesterday. 

This year Easter occurs on March 31st. So, Epiphany season this year will include six Sundays, concluding with Transfiguration Sunday in early-February.  Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, will come the following week (on February 14th).

Epiphanytide is the time when we focus our attention on the revealing of Christ to the nations, to all people. Yesterday, we heard the story of the coming of the wise men, magi, from the East, who followed the star to find the child Jesus. They were Gentiles who came to worship the new king. The first indication that this child, this one born to the house of David, was Messiah for all nations, for Jews and Gentiles alike.

Now, today we have heard the story of the Baptism of Christ. But, Mark’s story of the baptism is a bit different than what we read in the other gospels. 

You see, in Mark’s Gospel, the revealing of Jesus as God’s son, the beloved, seems to be a revelation for Jesus alone. The tearing open of the heavens, the Spirit descending like a dove, the voice from heaven appear to be seen and heard by Jesus alone. Not an announcement to the crowd gathered around, as far as we can tell not even an announcement seen and heard by John the Baptist. Only Jesus. 

This story of Jesus’ baptism, the one we have read from Mark’s Gospel, is all about identity. A moment when Jesus was made aware that he was the Son of the Father, the Beloved, the one in whom the Father took great delight.             

Now, today, the time when we remember the Baptism of Christ, is considered an appropriate day for baptisms to occur in the church.  In churches everywhere, children and adults will be baptized. 

Here at All Saints Church during the 11 o’clock worship service, Marlowe and Libby will receive the sacrament of Holy Baptism today. And, I would like to suggest that what will done here today is all about identity. It is about who we Marlowe and Libby are and whose they are. It is about who all the baptized are and whose we are.

In a few moments, Brad will splash the water of baptism on these precious girls’ heads and then make the sign of the cross on their foreheads with sacred oil, blessed by our Bishop. And, he will tell them that they are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. 

Sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. That will be their identity, as it is the identity of all of us who have passed through the waters of baptism. Amazing, isn’t it? 

It’s as if, as one writer put it, Marlowe and Libby will be sealed with the imago Christi, the image of Christ, a permanent, invisible tattoo. That cross etched on their foreheads forever.

And, as that seal is placed there, as that identity is established, the Father will recognize them as sisters of Christ, children in the Father’s family, bearing the image, the family resemblance if you will, of Jesus their older brother. And, the powerful voice of God will say, “Libby, Marlowe, you are my daughter, my beloved, and I take great delight in you.” 

Now, as all of us who have lived the Christian life for very long can attest, Marlowe and Libby will hear lots of other voices calling out to the, during her lives. Other voices that will demand their attention and try to tell them who they are. Those voices will try to shape their self-perception. Those voices will try to influence the choices they will make, the way they interpret their past and their future.

These other voices will try to get them to forget their true identity, to forget that they bear the image of Christ, to forget that they are the beloved and that God takes great delight in them.  One writer has named this forgetfulness “spiritual amnesia.” 

I have to say that I’ve heard those voices.  And, if I’m honest with you and with myself, I must admit that I’ve listened to them at times. I’ve let those voices tell me who I am, I’ve let those voices shape how I view the world around me, and I’ve forgotten my true identity. I know what it is to suffer from “spiritual amnesia.”

Maybe you’ve listened to those voices. Maybe you’ve had “spiritual amnesia,” too.

But, the good news for Marlowe and for Libby and for all of us here today is that there is an antidote, a remedy that can counter spiritual amnesia. I believe that antidote, that remedy, is the remembrance of our baptism. 

That’s why we renew our baptismal covenant each time someone is baptized. That’s why sometimes we renew our baptismal covenant here in worship even when someone isn’t being baptized. That’s why our baptismal covenant is printed in our prayer book, so we can read it whenever we feel like a case of spiritual amnesia might be coming on.

That’s why the font sits right here in the front of the space where we worship. Right here as we come to this altar.

Every time I walk past this font, every time I touch the water it holds, I am reminded that my identity in Christ is secure - no matter what those other voices say. I am reminded that God’s creative force in still at work in me, God’s love still holds me. 

As I look into the water there, I can see that cross right there on my forehead, the imago Christi, and I know that I remain God’s beloved even when I may forget who I am and whose I am.

And, as I say or read those familiar words from the baptismal covenant, I hear the powerful voice of God – that voice described by the Psalmist, the voice that can split trees and shake mountains – that voice saying tenderly to me, “Cindy, you are my child. You are my beloved. I take great delight in you.” 

As you see this font, as you look into the water there, as you touch it when you pass by, as you say or read the words of the baptismal covenant, know that God loves you, God cares for you.

And, hear the powerful voice of the Father saying, “You are my beloved child. Sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked as Christ’s own forever. In you, I take great delight.”

AMEN.