Epiphany People

You've heard of Easter People, but what about Epiphany People?

Isaiah 43:1-7

Psalm 29

Acts 8:14-17

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

 

©2025 The Rev. Seth Olson

This sermon was given at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles. A video of this message may be found here. 

Loving and Beloved God, may my words be your words and when my words are not your words may your people be wise enough to know the same. Amen. 

 

On this first Sunday after the Epiphany, we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord. This day draws us deeper into the manifestation of God’s glory in Christ, a theme that began with the arrival of the Magi at Epiphany and continues throughout this liturgical season. The readings and prayers before us today open a door to understanding what God is doing in Christ, not just for Israel but for the whole world—and how we are invited to join in Christ’s mission and ministry.

 

Let us begin with the voice that echoes over the waters in Luke’s Gospel account. The people are gathered in anticipation, wondering if John the Baptist might be the Messiah. John quickly dispels that notion, pointing instead to one who is greater. “I baptize you with water,” he says, “but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” And then, in a moment of divine revelation, we see Jesus baptized, the heavens open, the Holy Spirit descend like a dove, and the voice of God proclaim, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you, I am well pleased.”

 

This proclamation signals something extraordinary: God’s presence is being made manifest in a new way. Jesus, fully human and fully divine, steps into the waters of the Jordan not to be cleansed but to cleanse, not to be claimed by God but to claim us for God. In this act, Jesus inaugurates his public ministry, revealing that he is not just Israel’s Messiah but the Savior of the world. It is a pivotal moment, one that invites us to consider our own baptism and the covenant we share with Christ.

 

Isaiah’s prophecy provides a powerful backdrop to this event. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine,” God declares. These words, spoken to Israel in exile, are now spoken to all who enter the waters of baptism. In baptism, we are named and claimed by God, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and marked as Christ’s own forever. This is not just a personal promise but a communal calling—to participate in God’s mission of restoration, healing, and reconciliation. What does this look like?

 

One way of answering that question is seeing that the Season after the Epiphany highlights three transformative moments: the Magi worshipping the Christ child, the voice of God calling Jesus “My Beloved Son” at his baptism, and the transfiguration when Jesus’ full glory is revealed. Together, these stories tell us that the light of Christ is not to be hidden but shared, that God’s glory is for all people, and that we are called to reflect that light in the world.

 

As I was reflecting on today’s themes, I found myself drawn to a phrase coined by a dear friend and colleague, the Rev. Charles Youngson, who calls our baptismal promises “the job description of a Christian.” Think about that for a moment. Our Baptismal Covenant is not just a liturgical moment; it’s a blueprint for how we live as followers of Jesus. When we promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons” and “strive for justice and peace among all people,” we are embracing the work of Epiphany—shining a light on what God is doing in the world.

 

And what is God doing? God is still sharing the glory of non-competitive transcendence, unconditional love, self-giving service, unending joy, and peace beyond understanding. These are not mere abstractions; they are the fruits of lives transformed by grace. And they are not meant to be hoarded but shared. We are called to be light-bearers, people enlightened by the Epiphany, revealing alongside Christ what God is up to even now. We're called to see the light in one another, too. 

 

Thomas Merton, a 20th-century Trappist monk, writer, theologian, and mystic depicted this beautifully when he wrote, “I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all those people, that they were mine, and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness.” This realization, which happened in downtown Louisville, KY is a most fitting moment of Epiphany—a season where we are reminded that in Christ, we are made one. Baptism draws us into this oneness, this interconnected web of divine love that binds us to God and one another.

 

In just a moment we will renew our baptismal vows, and when we do, I invite you to listen to these promises anew. Hear them as both invitation and challenge. How might you, in your own life, embody the light of Christ? How might you reveal God’s glory in the ordinary and extraordinary moments of your days? Perhaps it’s in offering a word of kindness to a neighbor or coworker, advocating for justice in your community or school, or simply being present to someone who is struggling. Whatever form it takes, know that you do not do this work alone. The same Spirit who descended upon Jesus at his baptism empowers and sustains you in your journey.

 

As we step into this new year, let us remember that we are not only Easter people, marked by the joy of resurrection. We are also Epiphany people, called to illuminate the world with the light of Christ. To be guided and embolden by our Loving God who sends us forth to proclaim, by word and example, the good news of God in Christ—especially that we are all God’s beloveds in Christ.

 

Let us be Epiphany people, beloved in Christ, and eager to share his light with the world. Amen.

 

Onward

My Baptismal Certificate (Thanks be to God that God wasn't finished with me then).

 The Rev. J. Seth Olson © 2019

January 13, 2019—First Sunday after the Epiphany

Isaiah 43:1-7

Psalm 29

Acts 8:14-17

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

Do you remember your baptism? I don’t. In the Church we sometimes say, “Remember your baptism!” but I don’t. It’s not that I don’t remember that I was baptized, it’s just that I was seven months old. I do however, remember what people told me about that day.

On Saturday, May 4, 1985 in front of just a handful of people Fr. Jim Touhy celebrated a service of Holy Baptism. It is not lost on me as a Star Wars fan that I was baptized on May 4^th—as in, "May the Fourth (sic) be with you." Still there are so many more important details that others have told me about that day worth remembering.

Like that it was one of the last private baptisms celebrated at Saint Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Birmingham. As you know, we in the Episcopal Church now prefer a raucous celebration in the midst of a big feast day like All Saints’ Day or today. Being baptized in front of a few people who will raise one up right is profound, but when a whole church says, “We will!” make sure this child or person is brought up into the full stature of Christ, it’s so rich for the whole community.

Back to my own baptism, I also have been told that on that spring day in 1985 I cried bloody murder throughout the whole service. Fr. Touhy—an Irishman—said afterward in his thick accent, “Well, I hope it took!” As in, he hoped that he had gotten all the Satan out of me. These shared details and my own other memories about that church weave together this beautiful tapestry that informs me about the importance of being marked as Christ’s own forever. What about you, what do you remember about your own baptism?

What do you remember about what happened after your baptism? I’m not talking about the reception, I mean what occurred in the wake of your baptism? I ask this because today’s Gospel lesson directs us strangely away from Jesus’ baptism at the hands of John and towards another moment entirely. And, truth be told, what happens as we move through our life in Christ, our life-long journey as the beloveds of God, may shine just as brightly as that one shimmering moment in the baptismal waters. So, let’s look more closely at today’s words from Luke, as we are charged to move onward in our relationship with God through Christ.

Unlike in Mark’s account, when Jesus emerged from baptism with the heavens being torn open immediately, or Matthew’s account, when again the dove descended as Jesus rose out of the River Jordan, or John’s account, when we did not receive an elaborate description of the baptism at all, unlike the others, Luke’s story gives us an intentional account of Jesus’ baptism, but in the past tense. Listen again: “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized…” the heavens opened, the Holy Spirit came down, and the Father’s voice boomed. The moment of baptism had already passed.

How long ago was it? Well, in a blog post thisweek, our former rector writing about the Greek word, which we translate as “had been baptized,” lets us know that it’s unclear. However, what is as clear as the flowing baptismal water itself is that Jesus had already been baptized and was currently praying when the Spirit alighted upon Him. That’s right. The way Luke writes it Jesus was not being baptized when the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like that of a dove instead, it was when Jesus was praying that all of this action took place. This changes some things my friends!

Sometime after Jesus was baptized he was praying. And, as he was, God’s Spirit came upon him and told him the most important truth we will ever hear, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” There are two things here I want to dwell upon—first, what this tells us about prayer and second, why we need these words today more than ever.

So first prayer! Oftentimes parents of young children come into a priest’s office panicking. Especially if this child is the first in a family, the parents worry that if they do not hurry up and get their child baptized, then something bad could occur. And, so they ask, “What will happen if my child dies before she is baptized?” Sometimes not wanting to pull the rug out from underneath the parents’ feet too quickly, I will slowly try to unpack the fears surrounding this wayward belief. Most notably I want them to know clearly that Holy Baptism IS NOT eternal fire insurance.

This morning please hear me as I restate this truth. There is nothing you or your child can do that will separate either of you from God’s love. Nothing! Nothing, nothing, nothing, NOTHING! Baptism is not fire insurance. It is a repentance from sin and a turning towards God; however, God never waits on you to do something before God loves you! Got it? Now, not to undercut the profundity of the Holy Sacrament of Holy Baptism, but today’s Holy Scripture tells us that it is in prayer that Jesus received the Spirit and accepted His true identity as the Beloved.

So what does this mean? Is Holy Baptism insignificant? Well, no. But, it does shed some light on the power of prayer. Parents, guardians, grandparents, and the extended church family who may worry about our children’s eternal lives are also called to care about our children’s mortal lives, which are very much part of eternity. How do we care for ourselves and our children? How do we help ourselves and others to turn from evil? How do we lean ever closer towards Christ? How? How? How? Not only through the mysterious waters of Holy Baptism, but also in the rich life of prayer that we share together! Baptism is wonderful and can be profound, but it may very well be in our individual and shared lives of prayer that we hear the most important truth.

That second thing worth dwelling upon is why we need this truth now more than ever. What’s the truth? Through Christ and the Spirit, which came to reside upon and within Jesus, God says also to you, “You are my child, my beloved; with you I am well pleased.” You and you and you and you and you and all of us are God’s most precious child. Like all good parents God does not play favorites, instead God says you are my beloved. Jesus heard that truth, at least according to Luke, not in baptism but in prayer. If you are one of those worried parents who must have your child baptized perhaps these words are challenging because it’s not as simple as one moment. God is too big for just one moment. God wants you forever. God wants you to know that you are God’s beloved forever.

In just a moment we are going to remember our baptisms. We will do so by reciting the Baptismal Covenant. It will be lovely. And, I hope you take time each year on your baptismal anniversary to think back upon that moment when you were cleansed from sin and marked as Christ’s own forever. Still, what you need now and always is to pray. Not because it’s required of you. Not because God has to hear you worshipping, praising, or groveling. You need to pray because it is in prayer that you will recognize the truth of Holy Baptism. It is in prayer that you will hear God saying, “You are my child, my beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And for that, thanks be to God. Amen!

On the Edge

What a joy to welcome John Theodore Olson as a new member in Christ's Body!

The Readings which inspired this sermon were:

• Genesis 1:1-5
• Acts 19:1-7
• Mark 1:4-11
• Psalm 29

If one does not proceed with caution during this time of year, one might develop a severe case of John the Baptist fatigue. Since the start of December we have heard almost every Sunday morning about this unique forerunner to Jesus. What he wore and what he ate stick in our minds like an article from People magazine detailing a celebrity party. The baptizer donned a custom camel’s hair suit fitted with a vintage leather belt. He noshed on a minimalist paleo diet of free range locusts and organic wild honey.  When we hear the story so often we tune out what is going on and just as importantly we tune out where it is happening.

John the Baptizer appeared in the wilderness. The specific location of that wilderness matters immensely. John baptized those from town and country at the River Jordan. Now, this seemingly mundane detail about the location of John’s baptizing could appear too common to be noteworthy, but in Mark—the briefest of the Gospel accounts—nothing is superfluous data.

Meaning overflows from the Jordan. In particular, this was the border between the barren wilderness and the rich land of milk and honey, promised of old to God’s People. As we remember this story today, we stand on the edge of these same waters, the edge of this border, and the edge between what was promised and what will be fulfilled. We do not stand alone—no, we are here with John and Jesus and all those who came and still come in search of something that cannot be found in the established religion of the day. That is why so many went out to John, isn’t it? To search for something new and fresh and real. What is it precisely though that we are doing here at the edge of these baptismal waters?

We who may love our church and our traditions, what are we doing? The lessons from today lead us toward an answer. Genesis describes the Spirit’s moving over the waters ever since the beginning of Creation. Our Psalm for today celebrates God’s voice upon the waters. The portion we heard from the Acts of the Apostles depicts some followers of John receiving the Spirit in the waters of baptism when Paul ministered in Ephesus. In each of these we find something earthly linked with something that lies beyond the worldly—the sacred mingling with the secular, the divine in the everyday. Of course, the Gospel lesson from Mark most fully exemplifies this: “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.” Is this why we’re here? To catch a glimpse of God through a thin place? What was really happening with Jesus in that river?

For a long time the Church has argued about whether Jesus “needed” to be baptized by John. Mark’s telling of the story runs somewhat at odds with the others. Matthew tells it as though John would not baptize the one coming after him. Luke does the same. The Fourth Gospel account (the Evangelist John) supposes that Jesus’ baptism happened, but does not describe the event. Here in Mark’s narrative though things appear simpler. After John proclaims his message as the forerunner of the Messiah, Jesus appears to be baptized. Did he need it? Was he with sin before? Was he trying to fit in with the rest of humanity? As frustrating as it is, the text remains silent on these issues. More importantly though, we find something transformative happening as we watch from the edge of the River Jordan.

When Jesus emerged from the murky river a voice declared from heaven, “You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased.” The holy cut into a simple ritual out on the edge between the civilized and the uncivilized, between what was promised and what will be fulfilled, between what had been and what was to come. God entered into the lives of human beings as they grasped at a new way of approaching their lives. For regardless of what we make of Jesus’ decision to be baptized, the others out in the wilderness around the Jordan were searching for an amendment of life. The message John preached that attracted so many focused upon turning back to God—repenting or refocusing upon the Holy One. This too brings us to the holy waters over which the Spirit still moves.

This morning, John Theodore Olson will be baptized—yes, we related. For many of us raised in the South, this moment collapses upon only one faucet, the aforementioned forgiveness of sins. While I am partial to my son Teddy, I know that he will not be immune to iniquity. He is after all a preacher’s kid—and all of us at some point go astray. But, if one merely believes that baptism is about eternal fire insurance—that is not going to hell—then one has sorely missed what is at the heart of these lessons and what is at heart of God’s love for us.

When Teddy, or anyone else, undergoes the holy gift, the holy sacrament that is Holy Baptism the baptized are forgiven their sins, but something else happens too. When through Christ we celebrate baptism we hear God’s voice adopting the baptized as a beloved child. Yes, there is a turning that presupposes the voice; however, God does not utter from heaven, “Your sins are forgiven.” No, God says, “This is my beloved, in you I am well pleased.” The lesson from the Acts of the Apostles illuminates this truth in a specific manner.

Those in Ephesus got the baptism of repentance from John the Baptizer, but somehow they missed the crucial second step in the process. They had not been baptized with the Holy Spirit. They were ones who had been baptized by the water, but they had avoided somehow the Spirit and the spiritual fire that accompany baptism through Christ. In other words, they had only been focusing on the forgiveness of sins, but they did not hear their rightful calling through Christ. They had not heard the words that God speaks to all of God’s Children, “You are my beloved, with you I am well pleased.”

Some of us too might have missed the Holy Spirit. Like those in Ephesus we might have solely aimed at amending our lives that we did not get the full power of baptism. The gift of initiating and engrafting a new member into the Body of Christ shines both in the freedom that comes with forgiveness and also in the transforming fire from the Spirit. The Holy Spirit gifted those disciples in Ephesus long ago with the abilities of tongues and prophesy—Teddy already has the gift of tongues, as his morning babbling has exemplified. What gifts will the Holy Spirit impart on Teddy in this moment? How will Christ’s Spirit transform us as we welcome this new member? In what ways does the Spirit gift us?

For us to focus only on the forgiveness of sins in this moment of Holy Baptism is to miss half of the Spirit’s powerful gifting. In Baptism the Holy Spirit brings profound, marvelous, world-transforming abilities—how will we receive them? How will you be transformed as you hear God saying to you, “You are my beloved, with you I am well pleased.”?

Epiphany: When the Rest of the World Gets It

An Epiphany meme found on www.reddit.com

Today is Epiphany! YAY! The Wise Men finally reached their destination. As a child the Sunday closest to Epiphany was when we did the full Nativity pageant. Sure on Christmas Eve we had some fun with Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus; however, it was not until later that we brought out the full cast. I loved playing the part of the Innkeeper the most, as the lines were short and I got to sit in a pew by myself; however, I also loved being one of the Magi. As much as today is about the Wise Men, we often can confuse their presents with the deeper significance of their presence at the side of Jesus and his mother.

Yes, this is the day when three guys triangulated the city of Bethlehem with a star that led them to the baby Messiah and his mother, but it was also the precise instant that persons outside the Chosen People of Israel came to see, gift, and worship the Incarnate God in the person of Jesus. THIS IS A BIG DEAL! For thousands of years the tribes of Israel had worshiped the One God, but it was not so clear that anyone else cared or "got it." And yet, in this moment three men who practiced a completely different religion that focused far more on stars and the natural world than a monotheistic interpretation of God traveled from afar to be with this new born king.

Epiphany is the celebration of the rest of us getting it. Jesus had come to his people and according to John's Gospel account the people did not recognize him (1:11). So for another people to come, see, and worship him as God opened up a completely new possibility for the saving work that Jesus did. This was not just something confined to one group, one tribe, or one religion. This was the event that uncorked the beautiful saving embrace of all people.

Those in the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrate this as the most high moment of what is called the "Nativity Cycle" that is Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. They can easily relate to the ones from the East, so this makes sense that they love this day. Although we in the U.S.A. are not from the East we are Gentiles like the Magi. So, this is our day to celebrate salvation coming to us as well! Those in the Eastern Orthodox Church do not just confine Epiphany to a remembrance of the Wise Men though, they (and we with them) celebrate different moments of other people getting a glimpse of Christ's coming in Jesus, most notably the Baptism of Jesus and Jesus' first miracle at a wedding reception in Cana.

Today is the day when all people are invited to get the miracle of Christmas. We are invited to dwell fully in the mystery of Emmanuel: God with us. The Divine comes to earth to save all people. Today we go with the Wise Men to see the mother and child. We watch as Jesus rises from the River Jordan and hears God's voice calling him "My beloved Son." We celebrate heartily as Jesus transforms water into wine. This is the day when we get invited to be part of God's people, as we recognize the transformative power of the Incarnate One.

Worth and Love and Baptism

Sermon audio for this sermon can be found here: http://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3201897/011115_Evening_Euch_1Epiph_Baptism_of_our_Lord_JC.MP3

How do you break bad news to someone? Do you just blurt it out like ripping off a Band-Aid? Is it better to gently let them know something is amiss? What is the best tactic for breaking bad news?

I ask because I have bad news for you this evening. You are not worthy. Just like me and everyone else in the world, you are not worthy. You are not worthy to stoop down and do the most disgusting thing in the world for our Lord Jesus, untying his dirty old sandal. John the Baptist knew this and confessed as much. Yet, most of the time I go around telling myself otherwise, that I am good and smart and talented, I am just like John and so are you.

Maybe this makes you upset. Perhaps this news comes at a bad time. And while, I usually do not relish giving out bad news; this type of bad news might actually not be so bad. I know what you are thinking, “I AM UNWORTHY? AND THIS IS SUPPOSED TO MAKE ME FEEL GOOD?” No, but stick with me because there is more to it than just smelly shoes and feeling less than capable.

Being unworthy is not how God makes us. He makes us good calling all of Creation very good way back at the beginning. Yet, we spend our lives making decisions individually and corporately, purposefully and unconsciously, things done and left undone that expose the separation that exists between us and God.

Way back when John the Baptizer was out in the wilderness crying, people came from all over to turn from those things that separated them from God and each other, so that they might turn back towards a life with God. While John was out in the River Jordan he caught a glimpse of an ultimate truth with which we humans often struggle. The way in which this struggle manifests itself in my life is not something of which I am particularly proud. I am powerless when it comes to letting go of controlling everything in my life. This may come as a surprise because I come off as a laid back individual, but inside my head exists a voice that wants everything to run on my schedule and when it does not I have a hard time not throwing a fit. Growing up when I would throw these tantrums my family referred to this as my “K-Mart Brat” moments. This voice has many names: false self, ego, the devil, Satan, etc. So when John discovers this truth that there is a God and he is not God the Baptizer has a chance to let go of his own sense of controlling all the things around him.

There is a God and none of us are that God. This might be a kinder way of telling you that initial bad news of the evening. Maybe that’s where I should have started. When we come to accept that we are not God something shifts in us. In today’s gospel story John the Baptist’s position changes from being unable to untie a shoe to baptizing the incarnate God. Thomas Keating expresses this Truth in another way, “The movement towards divine love is growth in humility which is the acceptance of the reality about ourselves, our own weakness and limitations.” When we trust in ourselves and believe ourselves to be God we are unworthy, yet something changes when we come to God as humble servants.

“A voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’” John Baptized with water, and the Church does too, but God uses the Holy Spirit. This baptism of the Holy Spirit does something to us. When we come to God seeking to become his children this Holy Spirit changes us from being unworthy to being beloved. The words that God spoke that day he spoke to Jesus, but God also speaks those words to us. In humility we become real, when we recognize we are not God we then have the opportunity to become who God made us to be that is good and faithful servants.

There is a prayer for peace from our Morning Prayer service that begins, “O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom.” I did not understand that prayer for the longest time. How can serving lead to freedom? Yet, John’s witness helps me to understand what Jesus bids us to do. We are not worthy, none of us, but this is actually good news. For in our sin and separation we realize the Truth that we need God to transform us. A life dedicated to God allows us to no longer be consumed with controlling our lives, but instead the perfect freedom of serving God. God transforms us from unworthy to purposeful through a baptism of the Holy Spirit, and we hear God’s voice like Jesus coming up from the baptismal waters, “You are my beloved with you I am well pleased.” Maybe being unworthy is good news after all.