I’m a great fan of the three-year lectionary of Scripture readings. The framers of this schedule of readings made the assumption – a wise one, I suspect – that most of us can’t remember what happened a week ago. If we hear any good or encouraging news, it quickly gets lost in the avalanche of information and experiences of daily life.
Thankfully, then, the lectionary addresses many of the same topics, repeats important themes, and gives us a “previously on this show.” In case you missed it, here’s what you missed!
Today is a good example. A week ago, as the second week in Epiphany, we celebrated the Baptism of Our Lord. Well, here we are again today back to Jesus’ baptism – this time from John’s Gospel, which doesn’t actually report the event but rather lays out the implications for us.
And once again this Sunday we hear from Isaiah and 1 Corinthians.
All these readings are reminders that we’re not here to dwell on abstract ideas or reflect on historical events. Nor our Scripture readings romance novels or mystery stories to entertain us. Rather, we are invited to see the same things happening to us right now.
Like Isaiah, we are a light to the nations. With the Corinthians, we are the fellowship of God’s Son. And Jesus’ baptism is our baptism. Jesus is calling you and me to join Andrew, Philip, and Peter – and later Mary – as his disciples today.
We hear this invitation to discipleship on the day before we observe the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Right now, we are in danger of losing the legacy of Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. This is truly a dark time for our nation and the world.
In this Epiphany season, we are guided by the brilliant star of Christ’s birth and later by his ministry of healing and teaching. The promise of the Epiphany season is that we have been called and chosen to be God’s light to the nations – God’s unfailing rechargeable flashlights in a very dark world.
Today, we come together to have our flashlights recharged – the oil in our lamps replenished with the oil imprinted on our heads at baptism.
That’s a pretty unbelievable – if not ill-advised promise. When Isaiah was prophesying in the sixth century the people of Israel were still in exile, ruthlessly ruled by Nebucezzer who cared little about their institutions and traditions. Their homeland in Judea and Jerusalem was a wasteland. True, Cyrus of Assyria had begun to chip away at the brutal and authoritarian Babylon regime, promising more enlightened rule. But those hopeful signs were all but certain.
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul’s lofty opening words were intended as sarcasm, mocking the reality on the ground. In Paul’s time, all churches were small and struggling. To make matters worse in Corinth, the congregation was torn apart because of divisions between wealthy and poor members – and even more so by those who felt they were spiritually more advanced than others.
Yet, as we listen to these readings – and as we sing together and lift up our prayers – something, the Spirit perhaps, entices to trust that the Mess we’re in (the same mess in Isaiah and in Paul’s time) isn’t the final word. Together, we turn our flashlights, and we begin to see a way forward through the darkness.
Today’s reading John’s Gospel is a powerful recharging station for our flashlights. The obscure reference to the next day signals that this section of John took place over three days. And this was intended to echo the three days in the wilderness when God’s people prepared for the new covenant to be given at Mount Sinai.
In this context, that we hear twice that Jesus is the Lamb of God takes on great significance. Jesus is the paschal lamb sacrificed before the Israelites made their exodus from Egypt. And John’s readers would also remember that – not many chapters after our first lesson today – the lamb is the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53, the reed broken for us. In chapter 14, John takes this image to the fullest extent when Jesus, in chapter 14, tells his disciples that he is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for us.
This passage also includes the first reported saying by Jesus in John’s Gospel: “What are you seeking?” These words are echo the words 20 chapters later when Jesus asks Mary who has witnessed the empty tomb, “Whom are you seeking?”
Already in the first chapter, John makes Jesus’ identity clear: Jesus is the New Moses, the Messiah, because he is crucified and raised from the dead. The crucified Lamb of God is raised to new life, and he raises all those who believe in him.
Being disciples – staying with Jesus at the empty tomb and in the upper room – leads to overflowing grace and abounding abundance. That is made clear because the conclusion to this section of John is the first miracle in Cana. There Jesus turns some cisterns of water into an overflowing warehouse of the finest wine.
Then in chapter 4, after unleashing a gusher of eternal water for the woman in Samaria, we have the second miracle in Cana, when Jesus heals a royal official’s son – in other words, saves him from death.
Washed in our baptism and imbibing the finest wine of the Eucharist, we are being restored, replenished, and recharged to be the Body of Christ. To be the fellowship that Paul invites the Corinthians – and us – to embrace and express.
In this fellowship for which we are chosen and to which we are called, the words of our Psalm today make all the sense in the world. With our bright flashlights we can read:
Happy are they who trust in the Lord!
They do not resort to evil spirits or turn to false Gods
The Lord put a new song in my mouth,
A song of praise to our God;
Many shall see, and stand in awe,
And put their trust in the Lord.
I hope you – and your recharged flashlight – will join us to continue this fellowship during the annual meeting. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to celebrate the Eucharist today. But we are going to have a sacred feast. Brunch at St. Alban’s is always abundant.
We are so blessed to be here in Albany and to be with each other. Today is a chance to offer thanks and praise to Laurie, our senior warden, and to all the others who have done so much. You’ll get to hear about the challenges we met and what we were able to accomplish. Together, we can make plans to be an even brighter light in the year ahead. Please join us
