Above you'll find a video of my homily for Sunday, January 11, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. (If a video doesn't appear above, click here.) I preached on this gospel passage: Matthew 3:13-17 . And here's the text of my homily:
On the shores of the Jordan River, the baby born in Bethlehem (now a full-grown man) takes up the work he was sent to do - and he receives his Father's blessing, a voice from the heavens, You are my beloved son, with you, I am well pleased.
Who among us hasn't longed for and appreciated our own father's blessing, our own mother's blessing? Who hasn't hoped for, waited for, looked for some words, some signs, some gesture of our parents’ acceptance, approval - some validation of their love?
Sadly, there will be some among us here this morning, some who knew the desire for such a blessing. but never experienced its realization.
Indeed, after having given a child the gift of life itself, a parent's blessing might be the greatest gift a mother or father can offer.
Who among us doesn't long for God's blessing in our lives? God's acceptance, God's approval of us, God's validation: some words, some sign, some gesture of God's love for us: for me, for you.
And who among us wouldn't be happy if the clouds opened up above us, and a voice came from the sky and said to you, to me: YOU are my beloved son. YOU are my beloved daughter. With YOU, I am well pleased.
Each of us needs and wants to know that we’re loved by our parents, our families, our spouses, our friends. And each of us needs and wants to know that we are loved by God.
It's so clear from the scriptures today that Jesus, who was fully divine and fully human, that Jesus, the Son of God - needed this very same blessing, this affirmation, this blessed assurance of being loved by his Father.
Here at the Jordan with the Father's blessing, Jesus shoulders the work that will be his - and takes on the suffering it will bring. The import of this riverside scene is the revelation of Jesus' relationship with God and how that makes possible everything that will follow afterwards.
And in a real way, the same is true for you and me. My deepest life, your deepest life can only be discerned, understood, and known and lived - as we come to know our relationship with God.
It's primarily my relationship with God, not with my parents or my spouses or my family, and my friends - but rather my relationship with God - that ultimately defines who I am as a human being.
It's my relationship with God, not my talents, job, wealth, position, or reputation - but rather my relationship with God - that gives my life its fullest meaning.
It's my relationship with God, not my dreams, plans, schemes, education, career path - but rather my relationship with God - that reveals my life's greatest purpose.
My relationship with the God is the most important relationship I'll ever have in life.
Bar none.
The feast of the Baptism of the Lord, coming as it does at the beginning of a new year, is a golden opportunity for us to review our relationship with God . Let’s do that.
To begin with, in God's eyes, you and I are good. You're not bad, you're not broken. We're good. God made us. We are pleasing to our Creator. Along with Jesus - we are God's beloved! No, we're not perfect - not even close - but God delights in each of us in spite of our faults.
You see, with God, love comes first. With God, love always comes first. And when we fail that love, when we reject God's love, when we abuse our ignore God's love -- what comes second from God is mercy.
First, there is love, then there comes mercy…
Before I was conceived in my mother's room - before I came to be - God knew me and loved me.
When I came into this world at my birth - with all my assets and my abilities - God loved me.
Before God ever looks at my faults and my failures - he loves me.
Before God judges me - he loves me.
While God is judging me, he is loving me.
After God judges me - he loves me.
Mercy is how God loves me when I sin. I’ll say that again.
Mercy is how God loves me when I sin.
Mercy is the name of God's love for me when I fail - even when I fail miserably.
Mercy is the face of God desiring my repentance - and mercy is the heart of God's love opening wide and welcoming me back to his embrace when I have strayed away.
With God, love always comes first, because God is love.
All the pain and brokenness, all the sin in the world, all the sin in my life and in yours, comes in one way or another from our not believing, not accepting, from our doubting - that we are loved by God.
So very many people doubt that God loves them. Indeed, many people doubt that they are at all lovable. It's precisely when we doubt that we are loved, that we are lovable - precisely then - is when we begin to trip, stumble, fall - and often end up looking for love in all the wrong places.
Every one of us needs the assurance of the Father's blessing - which God withholds from no one. God offers each of us that blessing to help us live and love as fully and deeply as God intends and desires, as God made us to live and to love.
And we are called to love and bless one another - in the same way.
Even before we get to know others, before we get to know them, we are called to love them. Precisely because they are loved - by God.
Even after we come to know others - and all the assets and liabilities they come with - we are called to love them.
We are called to love everybody who was in the news this past week. Everybody who was in the news this past week. We are called to love them.
Before we label others, we're called to love them.
Before we dismiss others, we're called to love them.
Before we judge others, we’re called to love them.
Love always comes first - because God loves us is love.
And when those we love hurt and harm us - what must come second for us is mercy and forgiveness - because that is how we are loved by God.
Love comes first, then mercy - that we might still be loved.
Well, today's feast brings us far from the warmth of the manger scene over here. It invites us to stand with Jesus in the cold waters of the Jordan - and to hear from the heavens a voice saying to each of us: You are my beloved son... You are my beloved daughter... You are my beloved people… With you, I am well pleased.
And if you're still thinking, “Well, maybe God says that to other people, but not to me…” Listen, again. Because God is saying that to every single one of us, every day of our lives - since even before the moment we came to be. God has been telling each of us over and over again, You are my beloved! With you, I am well pleased!
If you haven't heard that, or you still doubt that the word of God's love is in your heart, is in your prayer - then perhaps 2026 might be a year to work on this most important relationship in our lives: our relationship with God.
And if you're still doubt that voice and its word of love for you - then don't doubt the blessed assurance of this table, this altar on which is laid for us the love for which we hunger and the mercy we need - in the blessing of the Eucharist.
Here at this table of the Sacrament, in the Bread and Cup of his Body and Blood, God says to each of us: Come, sit at my table… I have saved a place for you… You are my beloved… With you, I am well pleased…
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