Commitment and Commission

GOSPEL

(St Mark in his account of Jesus’ Baptism reveals Jesus as the royal Messiah and suffering servant.)

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to St Mark (1:7-11)

John the Baptist preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 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 he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove; and a voice came from heaven, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.”

DULVERTON SERMON

The National Gallery in London contains a famous painting of the Baptism of Christ by Piero della Francesca which he painted, in the 15th century, as an altarpiece for the cathedral abbey of his home town in Italy. The background landscape evokes the area of its origin. The Holy Spirit hovers over the head of Jesus as he stands in water being baptised by John. It is thought that in its original setting God the Father, the third member of the Trinity, would have been represented by a roundel placed above the painting.

A few weeks ago Cardinal Cormac Murphy O'Connor called for this painting to be removed from the gallery and placed in a church again as he believed that it was wrong to treat it as a work of art. He said that it was a work of faith and piety, an expression of the Church's life and a way into prayer.

This morning we have no painting of the Baptism of Christ but the gospel narrative paints a vivid picture in our minds. We not only see the event, we hear the voice: "Thou art my beloved Son; with Thee I am well pleased". Jesus is confirmed in his identity, his security, as his baptism commits him to his destiny - "You are mine; I love you; I am with you".

Obviously Jesus did not need to submit himself to John's baptism as a sinner in need of forgiveness. He was rather identifying himself with sinners as he comes among them as their saviour. His life will end in the death of a common criminal. He will hang on a cross between two thieves. His baptism is an epiphany, a manifestation of the divine purpose in his incarnation.

We can reflect on our own baptism and relate it to that of Jesus. Our baptism too is about commitment and commission.

In 'Pilgrim's Progress' by John Bunyan Christian is described arriving at a heavily guarded palace where a doorkeeper sits with pen and ink to write down the names of those who seek entry. As Christian watches he sees a man of a very stout countenance come up to the doorkeeper and, whilst many others hang back, he says "Set down my name, sir". As he watches Christian discovers his own desire to make a similar commitment.

Annie Dillard is a contemporary inspirational American writer who had a mystical experience that led her to a convent and her conversion to Catholicism. She was walking through some woods when she saw a valley below her and two men in the water. She realised that they were John and Jesus. She saw Jesus come out of the water from his baptism and suddenly she was right next to the Lord. She could see the beads of water on his shoulders and as she looked closer into each bead of water she saw a nation, a city, a home, a person. It was then that it occurred to her that Jesus knew everyone and was baptised to care for and serve each one of us. This was his commission.

By our baptism we too made a commitment, we too were commissioned. When we embrace our destiny in Christ we too receive the Holy Spirit. The Father says to each of us: "You are mine; I love you; I am with you".

Thanks be to God.