The following homily was shared at our Sunday Evening Eucharist Service 1/11/26.

Old Testament Reading:

Thus says the LORD:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one with whom I am pleased,
upon whom I have put my spirit;
he shall bring forth justice to the nations,
not crying out, not shouting,
not making his voice heard in the street.
a bruised reed he shall not break,
and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,
until he establishes justice on the earth;
the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,
I have grasped you by the hand;
I formed you, and set you
as a covenant of the people,
a light for the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to bring out prisoners from confinement,
and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

(Isaiah 42: 1-4, 6-7)

Psalm:

Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.

The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD, over many waters.

The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.

(Psalm 29:1–4, 9-10)

Gospel Reading:

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

(Matthew 3:13-17)

Thus says the LORD! His Servant and Chosen One has been upheld! He has placed His Spirit upon the One with whom He is well pleased. His Son has established justice and peace for the earth and His teachings have spread to the furthest coasts! Praise the LORD, O my soul!

He is holding your hand! Can’t you feel it? He is trying so very hard to open your eyes and break your chains! Praise Him, O my soul! Do not hinder His progress with your own machinations and your own fears and woes. Sit and be like the waters, which roll forward and back, up and down, bringing His purity and cleanliness to everything they touch. Listen, O Soul, to His thundering glory! Behold His flood. Behold your own destruction! He has given you a new self through the destruction of the old. Watch in awe as the world around you falls apart to reveal a new and beautiful one just past the edge. See His throne. See His Glory, His power, His might, His kingship. See Him.

Give Him the praise He is due. Give Him the glory which you yourself are hoarding. Give Him all you are and all you have. Fear not His power, but love Him Who wants you. Hold on to nothing that will be destroyed, but instead grasp at Him who can save you.

O my soul! Watch as He enters the floods. Look at Him stand there, preparing Himself to be destroyed. Your Savior, your King, your LORD and your very life itself. Standing in the waters about to be destroyed. Yet instead of destruction, you see a dove. Instead of death you see life. You see the hope of the world to come revealed as He rises from the waters as He will rise from the grave. Behold the heavens opening up to reveal His descent, as they will open again to reveal His ascension. Behold the Holy Spirit, which you will one day possess, and will possess you.

O my soul! Who are you that you get to witness this? Who are you that you get to see Him there? Who are you that you would dare reach out to touch Him, or even untie the Sandals from His feet? Where does your audacity come from? It must come from the Word of His mouth. It must be so, such that His righteousness be fulfilled. You participate in His baptism so you may participate in His death, so you may participate in His life.

O my soul! Praise the LORD! Bless Him over and over and over again! Why are you scared? You’ve been raised! Why are you angry? You’ve been saved! Don’t you see? None of your fears or worries matter! It’s all in Him! He has done it! He has saved you! Turn and see Him. See Him shine brightly in the faces of those around you. Study their faces and see the Christ who has saved them. Do not look at the mirror into your own sin that you are so tempted to see, but look at them and see the Christ. Oh my soul! In all things praise God for He has given you all you are. Amen.

The Baptism of the Lord: Adam Guillory

POWERED BY SQUARESPACE