Lectionary Reflection with Some Personal Additions

Mark 1:9, “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.”

Jesus was baptized. In this simple, passive, humble, religious ritual Jesus embraced his humanity. Last week’s lectionary passage, John 1:18, emphasized his divinity, “the one and only Son, who is himself God.” Now, in Mark’s description we see the Son humbling himself before John the Baptist who has called the people to repent. Jesus took his place along side those people and along side all of us who come in search of God. 

Imagine Jesus standing in line. With all the others he walks down to John and allows himself to be baptized. Fritz Eichenberg made a wood cut for the cover of the Catholic Worker newspaper that pictured Jesus standing in a bread line. Wherever we are standing in need of any kind Jesus is there in his humanity with us. Not only in baptism but in loneliness, in sickness, in fear, in every need and finally in death itself Jesus took his place in line with us.

He came to us to lead us from death to life. The lost sheep is taken back to the flock; the woman caught in adultery goes to sin no more; the hungry are fed, and the sick are healed. Jesus came to us in his humanity that in our repentance we may turn from sin and sorrow and need. We may turn and follow Jesus to forgiveness and fulfillment. In our profession of faith through baptism we are raised with Christ from death to life.

*****

Grandchildren. I didn’t get a photo, but one poignant memory from Christmas will remain with me. Sweetie Pie was chosen to be Mary in her school program. Near the end of all the singing she grew tired and leaned against Joseph to rest and she put her thumb in her mouth.   

Books. Judy gave me three mystery novels by UVa Economics professor Ken Elzinga. The books are written under the pseudonym Marshall Jevons. Elzinga is well known in the academic world as an economist, and his sleuth solves mysteries through economic principles. Elzinga is, also, known in the faith community of Charlottesville as a committed Christian. I like mysteries, and I admire Ken Elzinga.

Music. New to me and much to my liking: Samson Trinh and the Upper East Side Big Band.