Sermon: January 12, 2025
Reading: Luke 3:15-17, 21-22
John describes baptism by the Holy Spirit and fire as an experience where the Holy Spirit, like a sacred fire, envelops us. It flows within and around us, cleansing us by eliminating the obstacles that prevent us from reflecting God’s likeness and love. By removing these impurities, our lives we are transformed into genuine offerings to God, allowing us to live as His children by demonstrating His love in the world.
Today’s gospel passage isn’t necessarily a judgment text on removing bad people from good, but a holiness and purification text. It is about how Christ, through his actions in combination with the Holy Spirit, removes impurities from our lives, throwing out those things that are bad and gathering into his household the good.
While our baptism is a bit different from the one Jesus experienced, we do not and cannot enter our baptismal covenant lightly. The vows we make during our baptism lay the groundwork for our lives as disciples of Christ and Children of God, our covenant with God should be the focal point of our existence; every word we speak, every action we take, our very essence stem from the vows we declare. These baptismal commitments take precedence over everything else, transcending allegiances to any social ideology, group, organization, or political party. Our faith in God, who embraces all of humanity, guides our actions and reactions to the world. Our faith in God is not defined by societal norms or worldly influences.
God profoundly shows his love for creation by eternally uniting his divinity with our humanity through Jesus Christ. In baptism, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we become united with Christ in both his baptism and resurrection. During our baptism, God blesses us, proclaiming, “You are my child, you are my beloved; with you, I am well pleased.”
As we are anointed by the sacred fire of the Holy Spirit and claimed by God as His beloved children, may we continually be shaped into His image so that our lives may serve as true offerings to God. May we always strive to demonstrate and share the manifestation of God’s love and peace, embodied by our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, so that all humanity may live in harmony within God’s kingdom.
