Ordinary Time

January 9, 2022

Scripture Reading:

Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

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.’—Luke 3:21-22

Being hired by the State of Oklahoma in 1969 required political patronage, not by law but by politics. To my knowledge, I had none. The state also used a merit system, and my name was on the top of the list for the county and job title I was pursuing. A more politically astute person advised me to talk to my State Senator. So I did. I had never met him, but he was very friendly and received me well. When he heard my name, he asked if I was related to his friend Tiny Knott, and I said he was my uncle. His following comment left me speechless. The Senator said your grandfather was one of the finest men I ever knew. My grandfather died in 1928, years before I was born. The Senator and I  chatted briefly about my qualifications. He said he would see what he could do. I Ieft his office and drove the 20 miles from Stillwater to our farm. When I walked in the door, my mother said that a state official had just called and said I should report for work the next day.

Jesus’s baptism was his introduction to his ministry, and it required the public endorsement of God to get the attention of the people he was called to serve. I am a staunch supporter of the separation of church and state. However, Christ-followers would be naive if we did not recognize that politics is present in all forms of governments and organizations. We need to understand that being the Body of Christ in the world requires us to get and keep our priorities as outlined in the gospels and never to let greed or lust for power become our driving force. Those are hard temptations to resist, and thus, establishing a solid relationship with our God is the only way we can succeed.

Prayer: Lord, help all your followers stand and view the world from your higher ground. 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.