1st Sunday after Epiphany 

14th January 2024

Reflection (readings are below)

In the reading from Genesis tells of divisions but these divisions that shape rather than fragment. The whole is thus greater than the parts. It is God’s physical presence that is the source of this creative process. The reading also tells of a process of naming by which things gain an identity. 

Today’s psalm describes God’s voice – it not only  names, as in Genesis, but makes waters thunder, breaks trees, makes mountains leap, splits flames and makes the wilderness shake. This is a voice that commands awe and wonder. It is also a voice that brings forth blessings. There is no part of creation that is not acted upon by God’s presence. 

Nevertheless I am sure that when the presence of God was made so manifest at Jesus’s baptism – when the effects of God’s presence were so amplified – that those who witnessed it must have been changed for ever. The heavens are split  apart – does this suggest to us that a new phase in the history of creation has begun? For one the first phase when God creates heaven and earth,  is expanded from a formless and dark void,  into a world that has physical framework and timely framework. Is this a point at which the relationship between God and all that has been created is irrevocably changed? 

In the Orthodox world view, Christ’s baptism in the river Jordan, blessed both that river and all other rivers and bodies of water too. This aspect of the baptism is celebrated in Orthodox communities by putting – or throwing – a holy cross into the local river, blessing the water and reminding everyone of its holy nature. 

By the same token, surely all soil is once more made holy as Jesus walked upon the earth, all air made holy as Jesus breathed it in, all homes made holy as Jesus entered them. I am sure it is good for us to be reminded that the world is a holy place, that we should treat each and every part of it with respect and awe and thanksgiving. It must also therefore prompt us to recall with regret and penitence all the times we have misused the earth, the times we have disregarded its holiness, and the times we have sought to avoid sharing its blessings with others. 

Let us celebrate this season of Epiphany by reawakening our awareness of and response to, the holiness of all creation, being ever grateful to our God.

Genesis 1:1-5

In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

Psalm 29

1 Ascribe to the Lord, you gods, *
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his Name; *
worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
the Lord is upon the mighty waters.

4 The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice; *
the voice of the Lord is a voice of splendour.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedar trees; *
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord splits the flames of fire;
the voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; *
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

8 The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.

9 And in the temple of the Lord *
all are crying, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned above the flood; *
the Lord sits enthroned as King for evermore.

11 The Lord shall give strength to his people; *
the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace.

Acts 19:1-7

While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul passed through the interior regions and came to Ephesus, where he found some disciples. He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?” They replied, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” Then he said, “Into what then were you baptised?” They answered, “Into John’s baptism.” Paul said, “John baptised with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, in Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied— altogether there were about twelve of them.

Mark 1:4-11

John the baptiser 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 baptised 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 baptised you with water; but he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit.”

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptised 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.”