“John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.  And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Mark 1:4-11  

With 2020 now in the rearview mirror of our lives, there are many obvious reasons we are grateful that it is over. But upon reflection is there really nothing about 2020 that could be redeeming for us? What can we carry forward from this year, what can we set apart that will help us face all experiences of 2021 that are looming on the horizon?

The first experience of 2020 that I would suggest that carries redeeming value is the work we witnessed by so many scientists and medical professionals in preparing the vaccination for the Covid virus. While other vaccinations have taken years to develop, this one was developed in ten months. It is a remarkable feat and one we hope will be a model for vaccinations developed in the future.

Another remarkable outcome from 2020 has been a refocus on family – spending time with our families and our loved ones. For too many years we have taken family time for granted, thinking nothing would ever restrict our ability to see our parents or loved ones whenever we wanted to see them. And then came Covid-19. We often do not realize how lucky we are until we lose freedom of movement and the ability to be together as we want. Those of us in the church have felt this most personally – where we were forced to stop in person worship, social gatherings, committee meetings and even ministries because of the fear of spreading the Covid-19 virus.

Perhaps you can think of other ways that 2020 was not just a year of sadness and loss – but also as a year where we learned the value of knowledge, the value of science, and the value of gathering together as family, as loved ones, and as the church. Come to think of it, gathering together as family, as loved ones and as the church are the marks of worship. And it is in worship where we experience the sacraments of Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. It is through these sacraments where we experience our chosen-ness – how G-d gathers us together as G-d’s children.

Pastor David Lose writes: “Baptism reminds us that wherever we may go and whatever we may do or have done to us, yet God continues to love us, accept us, and hold onto us.” This my friends is why the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion are so important and so special to us – because they are redeeming for us over and over again.  

Pastor Dave 

“In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise menfrom the East came to Jerusalem, ² asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; ⁴ and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’”

⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” Matthew 2:1-11

Soon into the New Year we encounter these dual festivals – Epiphany and The Baptism of Our Lord – Revelation and Inclusion. Epiphany begins with the appearance of the Magi who have followed a star that had announced the birth of a new king. And when Jesus is baptized, a voice from heaven announces his favor as G-d’s beloved Son.

That is how the Christ-like life flows – it flows through revelation and inclusion. There is the revelation that G-d has intruded into and entered into the world through the birth of the Christ child. And when Jesus comes to be baptized by John, his Baptism is a baptism of inclusion – Christ joins himself to become one with all of humanity.

The light of Christ is a revealing and inclusive light that banishes the darkness of this world. That is what baptism does for you and me. Baptism annihilates the dark side of our lives – the sinful side. The infusion of the Holy Spirit through our baptisms is the gravitational pull of faith that continues to draw us to the light of Christ.

And so we have another choice here in 2021, along with all of the other choices that a New Year brings. We can make it insignificant — reducing it to a moment in time that we cannot remember – letting our Baptisms slide into the black holes of life — in other words keep it hidden, and invisible. Or we can get up every morning, make the sign of the cross on our foreheads, the same place the Pastor made a cross at our baptism, and determine to make it matter. This year let us resolve to let the light of Christ so Shine before Others that they will see our good works – because it is the Light of Christ that shines through us.

Pastor Dave