Sermon for 1 Epiphany – The Baptism of the Lord

January 8, 2006

St. Luke’s Church

The Rev. Eric M. Williams

There has been a lot of controversy this week over the premier

         Of a new TV show called “The Book of Daniel.”

                  In case you missed it, it is a show about an Episcopal priest and his family,

                           but in reality it is much more like Desperate Housewives.

Everything in poor Daniel’s life is out of control

         And the writers have given him every outrageous

                  and scandalous problem imaginable—

                           all at the same time.

On the one hand, I confess to being a little upset

         over one more black eye for the Episcopal Church in the media.

                  Surely we can generate plenty of scandal ourselves

                           without Hollywood helping!

But there is one redeeming aspect to the show, at least for me.

         Throughout the first episode, and I guess throughout the whole series,

                  Daniel, the priest, talks to and is visited by Jesus.

At first this seemed corny and contrived,

         but as I watched the show this began to make sense to me.

                  In the midst of Daniel’s incredibly messed up life,

                           he maintains a living and personal relationship with Jesus.

                                    Jesus never fixes his problems,

                                             but he is with Daniel every step of the way.

I thank God that my life is nowhere near as problematic as Daniel’s.

         But, like him and like you, I have my share of bad moments and bad days.

                  Sometimes the darkness and chaos seem overwhelming

                           And it’s hard to remember the light.

I don’t know if you remember a movie from some years back

         called Tender Mercies, starring Robert Duvall.

                  It was about a down and out country singer named Mac

                           who is battling the bottle and his personal demons.

He works for and is befriended by a widow

         And eventually, thanks to her witness, he is baptized

                  along with her young boy, Sonny.

Afterwards Sonny says to him:

“Everybody said I’d feel like a changed person.  Do you feel like a changed person?  “Not yet,” replies Mac.  “You don’t look any different, Mac.  Do you think I look different?”  “Not yet,” answers Mac.[1]                        

In our Baptism service we anoint the newly baptized and say these words:

         “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit

                  and marked as Christ’s own forever.”

But, like Mac and Sonny, sometimes it’s hard to feel the difference,

         hard to see that mark of Jesus Christ,

                  hard to sense the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.

That mark of Baptism is a water mark.

         When the water from the font dries it is invisible to the naked eye.

                  But it is there nonetheless.

I did a little research on watermarks this week.  (See some historic watermarks here.)

         They are permanent trade marks etched into paper,

                  and they have been around since the Middle Ages.

The earliest watermarks identified the papermaker or trade guild,

         and over the years they became more elaborate and decorative.

                  Today they are used on fine stationery and paper money

                           and they provide a measure of security against forgery.

These watermarks cannot be erased or duplicated.

         No matter what is written or printed on the paper

                  the watermark remains.

The first watermarks were made by sewing a wire picture into the paper mold.

         When the wet pulp was pressed into the mold the mark was set

                  And it remained after the water was pressed out

                           and the paper remained.

When Mac and Sonny came out of the river after their baptism,

         the water quickly evaporated

                  and they could not see the mark of Baptism.

                           In many ways they were not any different than they had been.

Baptism does not make us instant plaster saints,

         suddenly perfect and free from temptation and sin.           

Nor does baptism take away the problems that we face

         or magically and suddenly give us all the answers.

                  Baptism often seems to change nothing

                           and yet it changes everything.

What is left after the water dries is the indelible watermark of Baptism.

         “You are sealed by the Holy Spirit

                  and marked as Christ’s own forever.”

No matter what story we write with our life,

         No matter how many parts are crossed out or erased

                  No matter what kind of tools we use from crayons to fountain pens,

In the end the watermark remains--

         the image of Christ,

                  the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.

The interesting thing about watermarks

         is that they are virtually unnoticeable

                  when you are writing on a flat surface.

                           In order to see the watermark you have to hold it up to the light.

That is what this season of Epiphany is all about—

         From the star of Bethlehem to the mountain of Transfiguration,

                  we are invited to hold ourselves up to the light of Christ

                           and see in His light those hidden watermarks

                                    now gloriously revealed.

Like that very imperfect priest Daniel

         we imperfect people are invited to renew that relationship with Jesus

                  which began the day we were baptized.

In a few moments we will renew our own baptismal vows

         And we will be sprinkled with the water of baptism

                  so that we can again remember and see

                           the real presence of Jesus in ourselves and those around us.

As you say those familiar words and feel that touch of water

         I want you to say to yourself:

“I am a child of God.

         I bear the image of Christ.

                  I claim the power of the Holy Spirit.”

And let the light of Christ

         reveal that watermark within you

                  today and forever.

Amen.

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