Someone is Calling Your Name

January 10, 2010 Someone is calling your name Isaiah 43:1-7 Luke 3:15-22 Year C The Baptism of the Lord – Second Sunday of Epiphany Hearing Voices Harry Potter heard it, Joan of Arc heard it, and some say that even Jesus heard it. It being a voice that comes from beyond with a message for us. I am in the middle of reading the Harry Potter series – and in the second book the chamber of secrets – Harry Potter is able to hear a voice that no one else can hear. A voice that tells him that someone must be killed. He eventually follows the voice into the chamber of secrets to learn why someone must be killed. Joan of Arc said that she heard voices all the time. The voice of God telling her to do certain things, to fight for justice. Once again, she was the only one who heard that voice. And Jesus hears a voice, a voice which claims him and tells him the he is beloved and doing the right thing. But this time, the voice was for everyone to hear. It was the voice of affirmation. It is a voice that we all listen to today – a voice that tells us that we are also beloved. What it means to be baptized That is what it means to be baptized, to be accepted in the family and told that you are never alone. Not only is God with you, but so are all of us. The family of God. The voices of our world In a world where there is the radio, the television, the computer, the MP3 player, and all sorts of other electronic devices. We can hear a lot of voices – voices that give us lots of messages. Some in our best interest and some not. Henri Nouwen – a catholic priest who teaches spirituality says that in our world there are many voices which ask for our attention. There is a voice which says prove that you are a good person, another which says you should be ashamed of yourself, there is a voice which says nobody really cares about you, and one which says be sure to become successful popular, and powerful. But underneath there is a small still voice that calls us forward to come to the water. The story version of the baptism of Jesus People came from all over to see John. They came from all walks of life, a soldier, a civil servant, a maid. Some walked a long way. Some came because they thought it would be interesting to hear the voice of God after all of these years. Some came to be a part of the crowd. Some came because they thought he was a little weird – no one needs to wear animal clothing anymore. Some came because they were genuinely hungry for God. They felt that if they could just feel God in the water they would be okay – they would be fulfilled. No matter the reason that they came, John had a message for them all. They needed to get ready for the one – the one who was coming. He was baptizing with water, but he would baptize with fire. This one has been spoken of, but never named. John was doing this because God has called him by name to prepare the way. Even with all of the people coming out in the desert to see him – he knew that was no enough – there was something more – but he was not qualified to give it. His job was to be faithful until that one appeared. As each person came to be baptized – John prayed. He held them each under the water, and then prayed that God would fulfill them in some way. Whatever it was they were looking for they would find it, and in return they would give their lives to God. Jesus comes and prays He never expected that the one he was praying for would come to him – Jesus. Jesus came looking to be named, to be empowered, the affirmed. To be confirmed. He had been praying of what to do, and now it was time to go forward. But he wanted to be sure that it was really the voice of God that he was hearing and not the voice of his conscience, or worse yet his ego. After John dipped him into the water he stood there a long time praying. Hoping, listening and as he was praying the skies opened up. And a spirit came upon him like a dove. And there was a beautiful voice that said the words he needed to hear – you are my child, I love you and I am well pleased. Steve’s reaction For some reason when Steve heard that story he ran out of the church. He couldn’t take it. He hated that story. Those were the words that he waited his whole life to hear from his dad – and his dad never said them. And now his dad was gone. He couldn’t explain this to his family who were sitting in the pew next to him. But he talked about it with the pastor after church. The pastor told him to pretend that his dad was still here and he could still talk with him – and tell him how he felt. As he poured out his heart – he remembered the early days of his life – he saw his dad pick him up and tell him that everything was going to be alright – and then he hugged him and then said that was his boy. Steve was able to return home – and to take in the message of powerful acceptance that Jesus received. The effect of hearing the voice We all long to hear that voice of acceptance which tells us that we are loved. That we are not alone. That what we experience in life in not in vain, that we have someone who is with us no matter what. We all long to hear that voice in some way. Sometimes we hear it and sometimes we don’t. It all depends on our life circumstance. The message of baptism is that God sent Christ into our lives – so that we could know that all words that have been spoken to Jesus are intended for us to hear, and to take into our hearts. After Jesus heard the voice – he was able to go on. He was able to fulfill his call, and he knew that he was not just hearing voices – but that he was being led. When we are baptized we are called my name – literally we are called by our name. and we are told that we are loved and that we will be cared for. In calling us – God gives us each a job to do – a meaning a purpose. Through the waters of baptism we have been given to the strength to go forward. The words of Isaiah Isaiah says I have called you by name – when you walk through the waters I will be with you –when you walk through the fire you shall not be burned. And the flame shall not consume you. For I am the lord your god, your savior. Looking up instead of looking in When the people were looking to be saved – like many of us do – they looked up in the sky- waiting for miracle to come down. But the missionary told them that if they wanted to get water, that they needed to dig in the ground. Water for the crops comes from God – from the sky – what was this man doing – he knew that water was in the ground. He dug a well and the crops were saved. We are a lot like those people waiting for water to come into our lives – but for us the living water of salvation. We look in the sky waiting for a miracle to fall down – when the real miracle is down here – way down inside of us. Inside of our hearts. The miracle is in our prayers – our conversations with God. That is where we hear the voice of acceptance. In solitude, silence and a strong determination to listen – we hear that voice which tells us we are beloved. All of us are beloved children of god. The words of Isaiah 43:1-2 as a prayer Instead of saying an individual prayer – I want us to say a collective prayer – everyone needs a partner. First I want you to say the words of Isaiah 43:1 and 2. "(From the beginning).I have redeemed you, ______; I have called you by name, ______, you are mine. When you, ______, pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you, ______; when you walk through fire you, ______, shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Now I want you to insert the name of your partner as you say each phrase. Talk to them, not to me “God says (From the beginning).I have redeemed you, ______; I have called you by name, ______, you are mine. When you, ______, pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you, ______; when you walk through fire you, ______, shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you." Amen.