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God's
Light and Love On Friday I saw the new movie, Chocolat, and I was moved by it. Loved it. I commend it to you. One of the themes that ran through it was the power of acceptance and affirmation. Every time the central character got a chance to build somebody up, she did it. Sooner or later the warmth of that spiritual sunshine made a positive difference for the person being affirmed and nurtured. We know that children who are raised to know they are lovable and worthwhile have a really good chance to be successful at relationships and at living. We also know that babies who are not touched, hugged, held and rocked will shrivel, and not just physically. In this morning’s Gospel reading from Luke, we hear Jesus receiving nurture and affirmation from His heavenly parent; listen: "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. And a voice came from heaven, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." And it is significant that Jesus receives this blessing BEFORE he is tested for 40 days in the desert; he doesn’t have to prove anything. He is loved and approved just because he is his father’s son. I think that we all yearn for unconditional love and approval of our parents, or the central figure in our childhood. If we come into our adulthood without it for whatever reason, whether it is because our parent or parents or guardian was unable to love in that way, or because we did not have a parent with whom we grew up, whatever the reason – we are, I think, at a disadvantage for living. We can never go back to childhood to get that love and nurture. In another recent movie, Kathleen Turner played a mother of five teenage girls who was so worried about keeping them out of trouble that she forgot to love them. She was so stressed and fearful so much of the time that the girls became deeply depressed. It did not turn out well. I can remember when I was a parent of young children. I found it difficult. One of the reasons was that my father had died when I was a baby and I really had no idea how to be a father -–I had no model or picture in my head of how to do it. I got about a "C" as a Dad, but my kids could have used better. Now today we have three baptisms coming up. On the day when we observe the baptism of Jesus Christ. And all this at the beginning of the season of Epiphany. And it is all well connected. It is all about light. Christ is about the brightness of goodness. Epiphany is about the going out of the light of Christ into the world. The star the Wise Men followed is about the bright light for us to follow in our lives, that we might be whole. That we might be at peace. We know some other things that baptism means; for example, dying to self, letting go of old ways and embracing the new, being willing to risk what is comfortable for a fuller reality. I believe
that the light of baptism, the life-giving qualities of the water, the
idea of rebirth --- all this is symbolic of and in fact the living presence
of God’s love being poured into our soul, making up for all lack
of earthly love that we need in order to truly live. In baptism we receive
cosmic nurture and approval that is available to us for a lifetime. And
all of us today who will not be baptized are reminded that through the
Holy Spirit, we continue to draw on that love given at baptism, we continue
to receive that nurture whenever we ask for it. As parents if we ask God
for love and the capacity to nurture our children, God will answer that
prayer. The light and the love being poured out into these children today
is also being poured out for those who are charged with the care and the
guidance of these children. All Listen to this story: A well-known speaker started off his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, "Who would like this $20 bill?" He said, " I am going to give this to one of you, but first let me do this." He proceeded to crumple the bill up. He then asked, "Who still wants it?" Still the hands went up in the air. "Well," he continued, "what if I do this?" He dropped it to the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe. Then he picked it up, crumpled and dirty. "Now who still wants it?" Still hands went into the air. "My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson," he said. "No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it, because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth 20 dollars. Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled and ground into the dirt by the decisions that we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel that we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you will never lose your value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, you are always priceless to those who love you and especially to the God who loves you unconditionally. "The worth of our lives comes not in what we do, or who we know, or who we are; our worth is determined by whose we are --You are special don't ever forget it."
Here, now, at the beginning of a new year, a new century, a new millennium, God looks to us to help make His world new, to help make God’s world bright with the light of peace and good will. He looks to us to know our value. He yearns for us to see the value in others, and to nurture them with His love. May the light of these baptisms and the reality of your own baptism fill your heart and change your life. Amen. Copyright 2001 The Rev. William A. Kolb/Grace-St. Luke's Episcopal Church As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 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 the Holy Spirit and fire." 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. And a voice came from heaven, "You are
my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." NRSV
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