baptism

Power at the Riverside

/ Rev. Eric Anderson / 2 Comments
A circular image of mosaics in a dome. At center are three figures, a bearded figure representing God at left, a beardless figure in water at center, and a bearded figure wearing furs at right pouring water over the central figure. A dove is over the central figure. Surrounding the central image are twelve male figures representing saints.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, ‘Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented.” – Matthew 3:13-15

I wonder.

How many of the senior teachers,
how many of the higher priests
who gathered with the laborers,
the tax collectors, soldiers, on
the riverbank in search of some
forgiveness through the flowing stream,
thought secretly or not so secretly
that they, not John, should wash away
the sins to be forgiven, or
would rather send the penitent
to climb the slopes and pay the price
charged by the Temple vendors who
would scatter later at the wrath of Christ?

How many would have said, “Let it be so
for now,” and bowed their heads to wash
as Jesus did? Or did they huff upon the bank
and claim that they were justified
no matter what they’d done, or others seen,
recorded, understood, and known for wrong?
How many would have roared that they alone
determined right or wrong, despite the blood
which dripped into the Jordan from their hands?

How many would have humbled pride of place?

Events of then or now suggest it would be very few.

Perhaps: just one.

A poem/prayer based on Matthew 3:13-17, the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading for Year A, Baptism of Christ.

The image is the ceiling mosaic in the Arian Baptistry, Ravenna, Italy, 5th-6th cent. Photo by Petar Milošević – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39891909.

Spirit and Fire

/ Rev. Eric Anderson / Leave a comment

Now when all the people were baptized and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. – Luke 3:21-22a

The water gently swirled about their legs
as John and Jesus stepped into the stream,
the echoes of John’s fierceness still
perceivable in those who stood upon the bank,
and those who dripped the water of forgiveness.

The water may be gentle, but the fire promised
by the Baptist came descending. Like a dove,
indeed, but doves are sharp of claw
and though they promise coming home
they promise nothing gentle on the way.

The river’s soft embrace receded, puddling on
the riverbank. The Holy Spirit’s fire ignited
in the eyes beneath the water-speckled lashes.
The one who had, with hardly any word,
descended peacefully, has risen purposefully.

Was there a word for John? Who knows.
Perhaps a hand to brush the drying skin
which shortly would be washed again
with washing someone else. The fire drove
him from the water to the wilderness.

O Gentle Spirit, how do humans dare
to call You gentle, source of prophets’ words,
apostles’ energy, and martyrs’ blood?
Indeed the Baptist said it true, that though he washed
with water, You baptize your followers with fire.

A poem/prayer based on Luke 3:15-17, 21-22, the Revised Common Lectionary Gospel Reading for Year C, Baptism of the Lord.

The image is a mosaic of the Baptism of Jesus in the Arian Baptistery, Ravenna, Italy (late 5th early 6th century). Photo by Flying Russian – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21723466.