The Still Point

A Time of Meditation and Reflection

The First Sunday after the Epiphany:

Baptism of Our Lord

 

... At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement from nor towards,
Neither ascent nor decline. Except for the point, the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance...

 

T.S. Eliot, Burnt Norton

            Peace on each one who comes in need; 

            Peace on each one who comes in joy. 

            Peace on each one who offers prayers; 

            Peace on each one who offers song. 

            Peace of the Maker, Peace of the Son, 

            Peace of the Spirit, the Triune One.

Opening Prayer

Spirit of energy, Spirit of change, in whose power Jesus is anointed to be the hope of the nations: pour yourself also upon us, without reserve or distinction, that we may have confidence and strength to plant your justice on the earth, through Jesus Christ.  Amen.

The Gospel                                                 Mark 1:4-11

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, “The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

 

Poem: “Baptism”                                       by Malcolm Guite

Beginning here we glimpse the Three-in-one;
The river runs, the clouds are torn apart,
The Father speaks, the Spirit and the Son
Reveal to us the single loving heart
That beats behind the being of all things
And calls and keeps and kindles us to light.
The dove descends, the spirit soars and sings
‘You are belovèd, you are my delight!’

In that quick light and life, as water spills
And streams around the Man like quickening rain,
The voice that made the universe reveals
The God in Man who makes it new again.
He calls us too, to step into that river
To die and rise and live and love forever.

                                                                       

Meditation

The season of Epiphany is an invitation for us to reflect on what poet Malcolm Guite calls the "many little epiphanies, glimpses of how things really are." In his sonnet on Jesus's baptism, the "Three-in-one" God reveals to us the single loving heart/ That beats behind the living of all things/ And calls and keeps and kindles us to light." Also revealed here is God in human flesh, who makes the universe new again. The poem's conclusion calls for us to step into that river, to follow the path of Jesus wherever it may lead.

With the poem fresh in our minds, we might re-read -- with a sense of wonder -- the remarkable gospel reading for this Sunday, and consider its meanings for us as followers of Jesus.

Questions for Reflection

1. Epiphany is often seen as a season that draws us more deeply into God's light, and that sends us more fully into mission. What might this mean for our observance of Epiphany at St. Andrew's this year?

2. What are some of the things that make you hesitant to "step into the river,"  to follow Jesus where he may lead?

3. This Sunday is a particularly good time to read and reflect on our Baptismal Covenant. You can find it in the Book of Common Prayer - p. 304 or online here: https://www.bcponline.org/Baptism/holybaptism.html

Prayers

We bring before God someone whom we have met or remembered today 

We bring to God someone who is hurting tonight and needs our prayer

We bring to God a troubled situation in our world 

We bring to God, silently, someone whom we find hard to forgive or trust

We bring ourselves to God that we might grow in generosity of spirit, clarity of mind, and warmth of affection

We offer our thanks to God for the blessings in our lives

We name before God those who have died.

 

Gracious God, you hear all our prayers: those we speak aloud, those we hold in our hearts, and those prayers for which we have no words. Hear the prayers of your people, and grant them as may be best for us, for the sake of your holy name. Amen.       

Accept our thanks for all you have done, O God. Our hands were empty, and you filled them.

 May Christ’s holy, healing, enabling Spirit be with us every step of the way, and be our guide as our road changes and turns, and the blessing of God our Creator, Redeemer and Giver of life be among us now and remain with us forever. Amen.

                Reflections this Month offered by Frank Nowell

               Cover Image: “Baptism of Jesus”- Sadao Watanabe