By the Rev. Robert Blezard
Revised Common Lectionary reflection for Baptism of the Lord Sunday, Year C
January 12, 2025
Key verse: He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Many preachers love Lectionary Year C because it emphasizes Luke’s Gospel, which, in turn, we love because Luke emphasizes the Holy Spirit. Luke mentions the Holy Spirit more than twice as often as Matthew and more than three times as either Mark or John!
For me, I’ll take advantage of every opportunity to focus on the Holy Spirit, which is often misunderstood as the weakest and least important person of the Trinity. Because, as we all know from Confirmation, the Holy Spirit is a co-equal, co-eternal and equally powerful partner alongside God the Father and God the Son. Christians can’t be reminded often enough of the centrality of the Holy Spirit’s work in the lives of the faithful.
That is all to say that a sermon for Baptism of Our Lord Year C might focus on the Holy Spirit’s work in our baptism and our lives, and particularly the Holy Spirit’s role as a refining fire to cleanse us and bring us (drag us kicking and screaming, more likely) closer to the fullness of what God created us to be. And this being so early in Lectionary Year C, such a sermon might also lay the groundwork for other studies, sermons and explorations of the role of the Holy Spirit in Luke’s Gospel.
As stewards of our congregation’s spiritual life and the mysteries of faith, we do well to help God’s people understand the fullness of the Trinity and the ways that the three persons shape us.
The Baptism of Jesus Sunday lections offer a wonderful opportunity to preach about how the Holy Spirit brings us the spark of God’s holy fire, the fire that cleanses and purifies us. It’s essential for God to develop. John puts it succinctly, that baptism into the life of Jesus is with Holy Spirit and fire (Luke 3:16). Here are some points to consider in your preaching:
-Jesus’ baptism models the baptism that we undergo as Christians. Just as Jesus passed through water and received the Holy Spirit, so do we when we are baptized in the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Lutheran rite of baptism concludes with the prayer “… you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever” (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p 231).
-The Bible reveals that God has used water as a powerful agent of change and freedom. The stories of Noah and the flood and the liberation of God’s people through the parted waters of the Red Sea testify to this. Similarly, our baptism in water frees us from the power of sin and death.
-This week’s lection from Isaiah prefigures baptism. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” In fact, God’s spiritual fire is never destructive, as Moses found out when he encountered the burning bush in the desert (Exodus 3:2).
-Baptism and the Holy Spirit marks the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. Similarly, in the Acts lection for this week, reception of the Holy Spirit marks a decisive step in the formation of the followers in Samaria. After receiving the Holy Spirit, the Samaritan believers are good to go.
Having been reminded of the presence at our baptism of the Holy Spirit’s, God’s water of deliverance and holy fire, a sermon could inform and challenge God’s people to consider:
-What does it mean to a person of faith to receive the Holy Spirit, as did the followers in the Acts lection? What were the Samaritans missing without the Holy Spirit? What did they gain by receiving the Holy Spirit? How has the Holy Spirit worked in you?
-Because of baptism, the Holy Spirit is with you always, eager and ready to kindle God’s Holy fire in your soul. Are you open, ready and receptive to the direction of the Holy Spirit?
-It is nearly impossible to start a fire with wet wood, whereas dry wood kindles readily. Would the Holy Spirit find your soul soggy and wet or dry? What keeps your soul wet, and resistant to God’s Holy fire?
-Luke says Jesus will gather the wheat into the granary but burn the chaff with unquenchable fire. What “chaff” is in your life that need’s God’s Holy fire to burn away, so that you can be a better follower of Jesus, Our Lord?
In Worship
This would be a good week for a baptism. It would remind God’s people of the glorious sacrament whereby we enter into covenantal relationship with God. If there is no possibility of a baptism, the service might incorporate an affirmation of baptism (Lutherans can find such a rite in ELW pp. 234-237). Other denominations may offer a similar rite.
If an affirmation of baptism cannot be incorporated into the service, a Thanksgiving for Baptism could start the service instead of a rite of Confession and Forgiveness. ELW offers such a Thanksgiving on p. 97.
With youth
Review with youth the rite of baptism used in your church. For Lutherans, this is found in ELW, pp. 237-231. Page 228 lists responsibilities that parents and sponsors agree to on behalf of an infant present for baptism. Discuss how each of those responsibilities is actualized (or not) in the lives of the youth. How can they do better?
With children
In Sunday school or a children’s sermon time, gather them around the baptismal font. From a pitcher pour some water into the font. Let them place their hands in the water (keep paper towels handy!). Explain that the water came from an ordinary faucet, but in the font it performs a special task – baptism – because the Holy Spirit is present. Explain that Baptism signifies that we are sons and daughters of God, and that the Holy Spirit is always with us, to guide us and comfort us.
Here are previous reflections for Baptism of the Lord, Year C:
2022 – Remember your baptism – and live it!
2019 – Listening to God
2016 – Lament, repent, relent
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