Sermon at Evensong Baptism of Christ 2008

Sermon at Baptism of Christ 2009

Today we celebrate the Spirit of God descending on Our Lord Jesus Christ at his baptism. Right at the start of the Lord’s ministry we hear the promise of God’s Spirit – not only will Jesus cleanse us and release us from the past but by the Spirit will re-energise and transform us for the future – the same Spirit that moved on the face of the waters at the creation of the world as we read in the opening sentence of the Bible in Genesis Chapter One.

The Spirit of God is promised to all human beings; to every one of us. The ancient biblical prophecies and hopes are fulfilled; and what were promises initially to Israel are now promises to all humanity. This promise of the gift of the Holy Spirit cancels out the curse of the human fall from grace depicted in the story of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from Eden. The promise of God’s Spirit restores human nature to its true image and puts us back into a right relationship with our Creator and with the creation. Of course it’s facile to claim that religious experience and profession of Christian faith eradicates in every individual the consequences of earlier emotional or mental injury – there remains a recalcitrance about evil in this world. But if we believe in the promise of God’s Spirit in Christ we may redeem our expectations and hopes for the human race.

There’s an illustration by William Blake, visionary artist and poet of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. It is the typically Anglican scene of a child’s baptism, with parents and godparents standing around the stone font in the church. But the one holding the babe in his arms ready to do the baptism is the Lord Himself.

It is the Lord who baptises us with his Holy Spirit. Whether your own baptism ceremony was held when you were an infant or when you were adult it was the symbolic enactment of the immersion in the Holy Spirit promised to us when we follow Jesus.

Baptism at first sight does not seem like a symbol of spiritual sharing; but rather of separation - we signal our intention in baptism to separate from the world the flesh and the devil as the ancient liturgy has it - the ritual cleansing action is an action of separation from dirt, from all that clings to us that is not truly of us -hence symbolising our sins - we are born again into new life. But baptism is also a ritual immersion - it is about taking the plunge - an action symbolic of joining in and becoming part of something much greater - a more extensive element than one’s own physical body.

At this church we welcome parents who bring their children for baptism. We do not turn them away because we have not seen them before - generous sharing is the way God’s love and mercy is passed on. And yet sometimes as I hold those babies in my arms and I look at the families around them I do so in fear and trembling , wondering if they really know what they have asked for their child -unutterable joy we know and believe - but to be baptised into Christ is not about joining a holy club of people like us: it is to promise solidarity with all humankind - to renounce subjection to the divisions of human society, to commit to unity with all people and to recognise that the suffering of one is the suffering of all as the joy of one is the joy of all, and to take the plunge for that vision of God’s kingdom in which the few will not enjoy the blessings of peace until everyone shares the blessing of justice.

I hope and believe this is what we know in our hearts baptism is all about. It is the sharing of God’s love and justice ever more widely. But we cannot do that merely in the strength of our own ego-fuelled efforts to be better people.

The New Testament scriptures tell us that when new Christians were baptised they received the Holy Spirit and they were given spiritual gifts. Saint Paul lists some of them in First Corinthians Chapter 12; words of wisdom or knowledge or prophecy, gifts of healing, or spiritual discernment and others too – all are really aspects of the releasing of spiritual energy for the good of others.

Of the modern Christian denominations it is Pentecostal churches who make much of this spiritual energy; and certain Pentecostal churches are some (though not all) of the most rapidly growing churches in the world; especially in parts of Africa, South America and also now in Eastern Europe. Most of these churches encourage high-energy and enthusiastic displays of ecstatic and prophetic speech; song; dance, instantaneous healings (alleged) and exorcisms. Not all of these will be truly of the Holy Spirit. Human beings are fascinated by tricks and treats; displays of spiritual power are exciting and pull in crowds. There are some preachers whether charlatans or self-deluded who exploit people’s God-given gifts of curiosity and desire for a better life. And yet this energy and joy in God’s work can bring real changes for good in many people’s lives and communities. The former Conservative MP and journalist Matthew Parris an avowed atheist wrote recently about a trip to Africa he made last month. It made him realise that it’s not only material help which makes the difference there – Christian faith transforms people’s lives and liberates them to work for good in a way no secular ideology can .

“Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The change is good.”

Saint Paul urges Christians to seek the greater spiritual gifts. The most excellent one is love. He describes it in the famous chapter 13 often read at weddings. And words of prophecy should be used to build up, encourage or console others. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given for the benefit of the community; through individuals but not only for individuals; and nothing said or done is immune from reasoned judgement by the community. The gifts the Holy Spirit endows are creative gifts which bring joy and the inspiration to love care for and serve others.

It is not only Pentecostal Christians who may fulfil the promise of our baptism in the Holy Spirit. But we need to recognise these gifts are not restricted to the pious or domestic world of the prayer-meeting, helpful as that is to some. We may look for the Holy Spirit to give us gifts of discernment , wisdom, compassion and perseverance to play a creative role in our community and in the public sphere.

Let me end with the words of the well-known hymn often sung at confirmation services:

“Come, Holy Ghost, our souls inspire,
and lighten with celestial fire;
thou the anointing Spirit art,
who dost thy sevenfold gifts impart.
Thy blessed unction from above
is comfort, life, and fire of love;
enable with perpetual light
the dullness of our blinded sight.” John Cosin (1594 –1672)