Last week we started our Epiphany series about the
disciplines of the Way of Love. We
looked at Learn as a way in which we grow in knowledge, ability, and trust to
serve God. This week, we continue the series as we consider how the ways we Go
are important in our Christian journey.
The Gospel lesson for this week in the Revised Common
Lectionary is about Jesus’ baptism. (Luke 3:15-17, 21-22) It is a good starting
place for exploring ways to Go. Our own baptisms are the way we
are empowered to Go and given instructions for actively living our Christian Way of Love. At baptism, we are asked a
series of questions. Each of the questions is a step on the path to living faithful
lives.
In this Gospel lesson we hear that the people Go
to see John. He is the current rising star. Everyone wants to see him and be
seen with him. They aren’t sure exactly who John is, though. There is
speculation that he might be the long-expected 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. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear
his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he
will burn with unquenchable fire."
John doesn’t speak
soothing, politically correct, or comforting words. He talks about
winnowing forks and fire. Probably not many of us have seen a winnowing fork
used. It is hard, heavy, and dirty labor to winnow the grain from the chaff.
After it is harvested, the grain kernels must be beaten free of the stalks
(chaff). This can be done with sledges, or animals, or human feet. Then the
chaff has to be sorted away from the grain itself. This involves tossing piles
into the air and letting the action and wind separate the heavier grain from
the lighter chaff. The chaff is then discarded, or in John’s example, burned.
John is warning the people that they will be tossed and blown and sorted by the One “will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and
fire.” The newly winnowed people are the wheat gathered into the
granary. Grain is ground and used to make bread. Like bread, we are called to Go
and nourish the world. We are to offer the food of love.
It is not a comfortable thing to be ‘winnowed’. To be
separated from the chaff of our lives is difficult. We usually prefer to stay
hidden among the stalks instead of becoming ‘food’ that can make a difference
in the world.
As the Gospel lesson continues, we learn “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.’”
The people Go to John in the wilderness,
wondering if John is Messiah. He responds that he is not. When Jesus is
baptized, the Spirit acknowledges him as the ‘Beloved’. This newly baptized carpenter is, in fact, the One who will winnow the
grain from the chaff. The grain will be the food needed to Go
and change the world.
Let us not forget
that God calls and names each of us as ‘beloved’ also. Paul says, “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by
God, that he has chosen you.” (I Thessalonians 1:4) Sometimes we may look
around at the problems of the world and wonder when and how God is going to
winnow the good grain from the useless chaff. If we take John’s message to heart, we are called to Go and be the winnowers as well as the
grain.
In the Letter of James, we are reminded, “Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God
choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom
which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5) It doesn’t matter who we are in the eyes of the world. We are beloved
of God. We are to Go into the world to make a
difference.
You might want to meditate on the questions, prayers, and
responses from the Episcopal baptism service.
Do you sometimes feel as if you are being winnowed?
When we Go, do we recognize that we are
Beloved?
Can you envision yourself as grain that will Go and nourish your
corner of the world?
