Epiphany

January 9, 2021

Scripture Reading:
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.‘

I am re-reading the Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. With all that is going on in our nation, I feel the need to be re-grounded in my faith. While I may not agree with him in every aspect of his thinking, he forces me to consider where I am in my faith development. He was one who saw evil working its will on people without their knowledge. John the Baptist also fits that mold. It seems God’s way with God’s people is always to warn them away from unjust behavior before they suffer the consequences of their choices. John prepared the people for the coming of Jesus. Jesus prepared us for the coming of the Kingdom of God and its characteristics. Yet, we at times forget that we are charged with being a part of that Kingdom now. Paul, recognizing that fact, noted his struggle to fulfill the responsibility, For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. (Romans 7:19)

Evil is cunning. Fred Craddock wrote a Bible study many years ago that I am not sure was formally published. I do not even remember the name of it. What I do remember is he posits that people tend to sin not in their weakness but in the areas of their greatest strength. I have heard in the news several times recently that the USA is the example of real democracy. They cannot believe some of the things happening here now, describing them as similar to a banana republic. History has shown us that we pay a heavy price for the outcomes when we become indifferent to our responsibilities. The Hebrew prophets like Amos and Hosea delivered this message. It certainly was Bonhoeffer’s message in response to Hitler.

If we are to live in God’s righteousness/justice, we must practice it in every aspect of our lives and enable others to practice it.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we get so caught up in our culture we forget we are to live in the culture of your Kingdom. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.