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The Baptism of the Lord, Homiletical Musings 01/11/2025

The Baptism of the Lord, Homiletical Musings 01/11/2025

Last updated on: January 11, 2025 at 7:19 pm by Jeff Hood

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The Baptism of the Lord, Homiletical Musings 01/11/2025 2025-01-11T19:19:41-06:00 Jeff Hood

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The Baptism of the Lord or The Lunacy of Greatness

The Baptism of the Lord, Homiletical Musings 01/11/2025

*Based on a homily delivered at St. Oscar Romero Old Catholic Church in Little Rock, Arkansas

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;

John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened,

And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Is it John…is he the Christ? Oppression, marginalization and injustice reigned…I guess you could say that the people were lower than low…of course they were desperate for the Christ. When you are starving, everybody who comes to you with food in their hand looks like a savior. John brought food and the people were starving. But I think it’s important to remember that just because somebody gives you a taste of something…it doesn’t mean that they’ve brought the main course. Indeed, sometimes we get so ready for something that we are willing to jump at anything. But something might be nothing and anything ain’t everything. We mustn’t allow our hunger to dictate the truth. John was not the Christ.

In our present reality, we must figure out what truth is. Too often we see partial measures as total victories. Jesus has come to redeem everything…not some things…everything. We mustn’t settle for anything besides total justice…total love…total healing. To settle for anything less than totality is to settle for nothing. Jesus does not partially love us. Jesus loves us completely. If we are to be like Christ, we must never settle for partial. John was not the Christ.

There are many who claim that a new complete and total political era of reformation has arrived. We are told that we have elected a leader who might make us great again. Great is not a proper theological category of measurement. Indeed, the message of Jesus is about being small…humble…meek. John knew that he must become lesser…and explicitly said so. In this moment, followers of Jesus must bind themselves to the least of these not the most of these. To do anything else is to walk away from Christ.

The story ends…perhaps begins is more like it…with the voice of heaven declaring that Jesus is the one. There are so many people out there claiming to be the Christ…or at the very least something akin to it. In such an era, we must look to John for guidance. When the real Christ shows up…when the person of Jesus is available…we must get out of the way. When the dove was coming down, John got out of the way. John became lesser so that Christ…this nobody from Nazareth named Jesus…might become the greatest of them all.

We can’t follow Jesus and give our lives to “Make(ing) America Great Again.” Indeed, the message of Jesus is to humble ourselves…so that all things might be lifted up…so that love might transform all things. Don’t get distracted. Don’t fall for partial. Don’t get confused. Love is the only thing worth giving your life to.

Catholic

Politics and Religion

St. Oscar Romero Old Catholic Church

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