About tomorrow

The sketch, which I may use again to head tomorrow's Sunday sermon that I'll publish here, is by Rembrandt, maybe my favorite visualization of the baptism of Jesus, even though we know that in John's day the Jewish practice of baptism for the forgiveness of sins involved total immersion in water. But Rembrandt was a Western Christian, for whom baptism was likely at a font in church, water poured over the infant candidate's head with a shell or by hand. Maybe what I like best about the image is that it's an unfinished rough sketch, IDK.

For my breakfast groupies anxious to see what poor creatures may have been sacrificed for my Saturday morning feast, a snapshot of my oyster stew is below (scroll way down). In a heating pot, nearly a pint of Chesapeake Bay oysters and their liquor, maybe a quarter cup of whipping cream, pepper pepper pepper, a sprinkling of garlic salt, and stir. When the potion begins to bubble and the oysters to curl, turn the burner off, remove pan from stovetop, pour the deliciousness into a deep bowl that's in a wider bowl for safety against spills. I put out two spoons, one a long, oval soup spoon, the other a cream soup spoon, to see which I prefer. Doesn't really matter. Dash of Tabasco and enjoy. Continually add NoSalt, my potassium substitute for salt.

Below: tomorrow's Lectionary readings for The First Sunday after the Epiphany: the Baptism of Jesus Christ. Note, the collect introduces the theme; the OT lesson introduces Creator, Spirit, Word in the beginning, and its responsive Psalm rejoices in the power of the Voice of God; visiting Ephesus in Luke's story about Paul in the book of Acts, Paul discovers that they never even heard of the Holy Spirit (a passage I always find delightful to read and hear); and in Mark's gospel, as Jesus is baptized and rises from the water, the voice from heaven speaks to him only (YOU are my Son, the Beloved), which is worth a wonderful hour of exploration in Sunday school. 

Anyway, there you go! 

 

The Collect

Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

Old Testament: Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

The Psalm: Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, * ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; * worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; * the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; * the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendor.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; * the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, * and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire; the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; * the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe * and strips the forests bare.

9 And in the temple of the Lord * all are crying, "Glory!"

10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; * the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.

11 The Lord shall give strength to his people; * the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

New Testament: Acts 19:1-7

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

The Gospel: Mark 1:4-11

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 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. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 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. 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 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. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

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Stopping now to get ready for a 10:30 meeting. Gut Shabbos!

RSF&PTL

T88&c