Loving God, you make us your own in baptism and call us into a life of service.  Empower us by your Holy Spirit for all that you have called us to do, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            It all begins with water – the formless void with the Spirit moving over the waters – the four rivers that water the garden.  The water that gives life and also has the power to destroy. The water that represents chaos but also brings forth vegetation on the earth.  The water that saves and brings forth a new creation through baptism by water and the Spirit.

         The destructive power of water is there in spades throughout the whole story of Noah.  The flood destroys all living things upon the earth – all flesh “on dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life” (Gen. 7:22) – all except Noah and his family and all of the animals who were in the ark.  Yet, they “were saved through water” (1 Pet. 3:20) because the ark could float and because God saw fit to save them.

         Many years later, in the Jordan River, Jesus enters the water and is baptized by John – an act of solidarity with all those who would seek baptism then, and in the years to come.  It is an act that sparks a flurry of activity, and the first revelation of Jesus’ true identity.  Once again, the Spirit moves over the waters and God speaks a new creation into being – the same new creation that is initiated at our own baptism into Christ.

         In an emerging pattern today, the path from the water leads directly into the wilderness.  In Jesus’ case, it is a wilderness marked by the lack of water – although there is enough there to sustain the wild beasts (Mk. 1:13).  It is also a wilderness marked by temptation.  In Noah’s case, it is a different kind of wilderness – the kind that is created by the aftermath of a flood.  It will take time for the earth to recover and for all flesh to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 9:7).

         In our case, we, too, are on a journey through the wilderness of this world – a journey that is lifted up during Lent more than at any other time.  The forty days in the wilderness mirror the forty years in the wilderness, which mirror the forty days that it rained upon the earth, which mirrors the forty days of Lent.

         In the wilderness, the basic necessities of life are the most important, as things that don’t really matter are stripped away.  The barrenness of the landscape somehow makes it easier to fast and to pray – and to look to God for all that is needed.  The presence of the wild beasts points us towards all of creation, for God’s covenant is made with all flesh (Gen. 9:15).  In the wilderness, it is a good time to struggle against temptation, for both God and Satan are close at hand.

         The thing is, though, that the path through the water and the wilderness leads to good news!  In Noah’s case, the good news was to be found in the covenant that God made with all living creatures, promising that never again would there be a flood to destroy the earth.  In Jesus’ case, there were angels who came and ministered to him at the end of his time in the wilderness.  Having been baptized by water and the Spirit and having rejected any temptations that were thrown his way, Jesus is then empowered to begin his ministry in Galilee – proclaiming the good news that the kingdom of God is near.

         In our case, we, too, have been baptized by water and the Spirit, and saved from the power of sin and death.  God has made a covenant with us, as well, saying to each one of us: “child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever” (ELW p. 231).  In baptism, God has promised us eternal life, forgiveness of sin, and a new birth through Jesus Christ.

         In response to God’s promise, many of us have committed ourselves to living in the covenant of our baptism.  Some refer to this as confirmation, and some as an affirmation of baptism.  Oddly enough, those commitments that we make sound an awful lot like the things that we are asked to pay attention to during Lent.

         They include taking the time for worship, that is, Word and Sacrament, and gathering together with other people of faith.  They also include proclaiming the good news in word and deed, serving others, and striving for justice and peace.  These things are not all that different from the things that are part of the discipline of Lent – especially repentance, prayer, sacrificial giving, and works of love – all of which are strengthened by the gifts of word and sacrament.

         Let us embark on the journey together – the journey through water and wilderness – the journey that helps to renew us in the covenant of our baptism.  In closing, a prayer that is found in one of our hymns: “Bless Now, O God, the Journey” (ELW #326).

Bless now, O God, the journey that all your people make,

The path through noise and silence, the way of give and take.

The trail is found in desert and winds the mountain round,

Then leads beside still waters, the road where faith is found.

Blessings on the journey, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Lent 1(B)                                           Mark 1:9-15

February 18, 2024                           Genesis 9:8-17

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church  1 Peter 3:18-22

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

© 2024 Lynne Hutchison  All Rights Reserved