A Poem a Sunday

Baptism of Our Lord – C

January 13, 2019

St. Luke 3:15-22 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,[a] 16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; 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[b] the Holy Spirit and fire. 17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people. 19 But Herod the ruler,[c] who had been rebuked by him because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that Herod had done, 20 added to them all by shutting up John in prison.

The Baptism of Jesus

21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved;[d] with you I am well pleased.”[e]

Footnotes:

1. Luke 3:15 Or the Christ
2. Luke 3:16 Or in
3. Luke 3:19 Gk tetrarch
4. Luke 3:22 Or my beloved Son
5. Luke 3:22 Other ancient authorities read You are my Son, today I have begotten you. 

A Poem a Sunday

Baptism of Our Lord - January 13, 2019

When the heavens opened

divine waters filled the earth

- cleansing –

the waters flowing free

a purifying new birth.

And Noah stepped

into the new world

and God hung

up God’s bow

promising

never again to erase,

but Adam II

brought more disgrace.

The heavens opened

at the meager Jordan River

and this time initiates

Adam III to deliver

the human race

from self-destruction and

to give new life.

There is a birth

at that river

to push back

on all strife.

Born from above

God’s first adopted one

re-made us in

the divine image,

all daughters and sons.

A third creation

through the Jordan waters

has begun.

And now as

Christ’s body,

a new human race,

divine once again

we create a place:

the New Eden,

a community

of forgiveness

and grace.

Copyright 2019 by Kenn Storck

May be used with permission

kennstorck@gmail.com