A Poem a Sunday

Epiphany I – B

Baptism of Our Lord

January 7, 2018

Mark 1:4-11 - NRSV

4 John the baptizer appeared[a] in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 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. 6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7 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. 8 I have baptized you with[b] water; but he will baptize you with[c] the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 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. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved;[d] with you I am well pleased.”

Footnotes:

[a] Mark 1:4 Other ancient authorities read John was baptizing

[b] Mark 1:8 Or in

[c] Mark 1:8 Or in

[d] Mark 1:11 Or my beloved Son

A Poem a Sunday

Epiphany I – B

Christening

The ever present question is:

“Oh, God will she cry?”

presented for her baptism

by dear parents with deep sighs

of longing for their child

to be saved for heaven’s sake

but little do they realize

it may be a mistake.

Sponsors, Godmother and Godfather,

look on with loving hearts

but they, too, may mistake

the experience

of which they are a part.

And congregants

in padded pews

look on

with kind admiration

as another sweet innocent

increases members on the roll.

Do they, too, mistake

what’s happening

as the church bell

gently tolls?

Death and life meet at the font

and it is neither cute nor kind

for the infant dear is initiated

into a cruciform sign.

Dying daily to the old

rising up to the new

named and claimed in Christ

is a lot to go through.

So, dear parents and sponsors

and congregants, too:

behind, in, with, and under

the water and the Word

is a promise of new life

that needs to be heard.

New life will not come

until a drowning takes place

and the infant dear

in Jesus the Christ

joins a new human race.

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