The Voice Over the Water
The Baptism of Our Lord 2026
Opening Thought
The Christmas decorations are down (well, maybe?). The Epiphany star has led us home. And now, the page turns abruptly. We fast-forward thirty years from the baby in the manger to a grown man standing waist-deep in the muddy waters of the Jordan River.
Today we celebrate The Baptism of Our Lord. In the ancient church, this day was actually considered the primary "Epiphany"—the primary revealing of who Jesus is. At Christmas, a few shepherds saw him. At the visit of the Magi, a few travelers saw him. But today, the heavens themselves rip open, and the voice of God speaks for all to hear: "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
This Sunday is fundamentally about identity. It is about knowing who Jesus is, but it is also about knowing who we are.
Who are you? Who are you really? How do you want the world to see you? Are they the same?
We often hide ourselves. Maybe out of fear, embarrassment, or judgment. Maybe we want to keep a part of ourselves hidden from the world so we can keep some sense of ownership and self, especially in an age where lots of folks put everything out there for everyone to see. Maybe we hide because we know some people will never accept us for who we are.
But God knows who we are because God created us!
Yes, we want to be respected and shown dignity, but we live in a messy world where people spread hate, vilify, persecute, attack, make fun of, and belittle one another. It is okay to hide sometimes to protect ourselves, but we should always know deep down that we are loved—loved by the One who calls us "my beloved."
Maybe, just maybe, if we lead by example and show people that we are more alike than we are different, this world would be a more loving and nurturing place. Perhaps we would come together to show the love of Christ in all people.
This is exactly what our Baptismal Covenant asks of us. In the Episcopal Church, whenever we celebrate a baptism, we don't just watch; we recommit to a radical way of life. We promise to "seek and serve Christ in all persons," and to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being."
Why? Because if I am a beloved child of God, then so is my neighbor. So is the stranger. So is the person I disagree with. The water of baptism washes away our divisions and leaves us with only our dignity. Today, as we remember Jesus in the Jordan, let us remember that we, too, have been washed, sealed, and sent out to see that same dignity in everyone we meet.
Engaging the Word
Our readings today are saturated with water and the voice of God.
Isaiah (42:1-9) is not just a prophecy; it is a complete foretelling of Christ's work on earth. It is a passage that encompasses everything. It begins with the might of Creation—God who "stretched out the heavens"—but it moves quickly to the tenderness of Jesus, the Servant who "will not break a bruised reed." In this single text, we see the foreshadowing of his crucifixion and the promise of the Book of Acts, where he becomes "a light to the nations." It is a text of joy and hope, painting a picture of what this world could be when justice is finally established on the earth.
Psalm 29 provides the soundtrack for the day, and frankly, it is terrifying and magnificent. It reads like a dramatic ghost story told around a campfire—you can almost feel the wind and hear the trees snapping. This is not a polite indoor prayer; it is a hurricane.
The Geography: The Psalm tracks a real storm moving across the map. It starts out over the Mediterranean ("The voice of the Lord is upon the waters"), crashes into the mountains of the north (Lebanon), and sweeps all the way south to shake the Wilderness of Kadesh.
The Seven Thunders: The phrase "The Voice of the Lord" appears exactly seven times. Musically, these are like seven giant timpani rolls, cracking the cedars and stripping the forests bare.
The Peace: But then, after ten verses of ear-splitting noise, the storm passes, and the sun comes out. The final verse is a benediction of total calm: "The Lord shall give strength unto his people; the Lord shall give his people the blessing of peace."
In Acts (10:34-43), Peter has a realization that changes the course of history: "God shows no partiality." Speaking to a crowd of listeners, Peter recounts how the Good News didn't stay put. It started at the Jordan River—"after the baptism that John announced"—but it traveled. It spread from Galilee throughout all Judea, carried by the stories of Jesus "doing good and healing all." The river was just the starting line for a message that would eventually reach the ends of the earth.
Finally, Matthew (3:13-17) gives us the event itself. Jesus comes to John to be baptized. John tries to stop him—"I need to be baptized by you!"—but Jesus insists. He enters the water not because he needs to be cleansed of sin, but to "fulfill all righteousness"—to stand in solidarity with us in our brokenness. As he comes up from the water, the Trinity is revealed: the Son is wet with river water, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father's voice thunders from heaven.
A Journey in Song: Our Musical Guides
Our music today flows like the river itself, moving from the complexity of Bach to the rousing joy of the Italian Baroque.
Opening Voluntary: We begin with a masterpiece of musical painting: "Christ, unser Herr zum Jordan kam" (Christ our Lord came to the Jordan) by J.S. Bach (BWV 684). Listen closely for the "waves" of the Jordan River—Bach paints this with a rapid, continuous 16th-note figure in the left hand that never stops flowing. Underneath that current, the hymn melody is thundered out in the pedals, representing the firm foundation of Christ entering the water.Entrance Hymn: We continue our Epiphany celebration with "Songs of thankfulness and praise" (#135). We sang this last week, but pay attention to the second verse today: "Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme." This hymn ties the star of last week to the water of this week.
Sequence Hymn: "King of glory, King of peace" (#382). This text by George Herbert is an intimate prayer of surrender. Just as Jesus submitted to baptism, we sing, "Seven whole days, not one in seven, I will praise thee."
Offertory Anthem: The choir sings "Descend, O Heavenly Dove" by Mark Schweizer. This anthem captures the moment the Spirit descends on Jesus. It uses a hauntingly beautiful, simple melody that feels like a quiet prayer, asking the "Spirit of Jesus" to dwell within our own hearts.
Presentation Hymn: As our gifts are brought forward, we sing "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow" (#380, v.3). Using the familiar Old 100th tune, we acknowledge the Source of all our blessings.
Communion Hymn: We sing "Christ, when for us you were baptized" (#121). This hymn is a theological meditation on why Jesus entered the water. It reminds us that his baptism was the beginning of the road that led to the cross: "baptized in tears, in sweat, in blood."
Post-Communion Hymn: We conclude with "We know that Christ is raised and dies no more" (#296). This hymn is the perfect response to our reading from Acts. Peter preached that while Jesus was killed, "God raised him on the third day." This hymn picks up that exact thread, connecting the water of baptism to the power of the resurrection. Set to the glorious tune Engelberg, the final "Alleluia" is a sonic burst of joy that sends us out to be witnesses of that resurrection.
Closing Voluntary: We conclude with the rousing "The Heavens Declare the Glory of God" (Psalm 19) by Benedetto Marcello. While our Psalm today is 29, this piece captures the same spirit of God's voice thundering over creation. It is bold, regal, and full of joy—a fitting "Amen" to the revelation of God's Beloved Son.
A Closing Note on our Journey
There is a detail in the baptism story that gives me great comfort. The voice from heaven says, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
God says this before Jesus has done anything. Jesus hasn't healed anyone yet. He hasn't preached a sermon. He hasn't performed a miracle. He has simply waded into the murky waters of the Jordan River. God’s love for Him—and for us—is not based on what we do or how much we achieve. It is based on who we are.
As we step into this new season of "ordinary time," taking down the lights and getting back to work, remember this: You don't have to earn the title "Beloved." It has already been given to you.
I know we may not always feel beloved. And in the honesty of our daily lives, we certainly may not think we are "well-pleasing." We leave things undone; as we say in the Confession, we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. But that is okay, because the Christian life is not "one and done." It is an ongoing challenge.
It is hard to love like Jesus! It is hard to respect the dignity of people who annoy us. Jesus knew that difficulty, and God knows it, too. We can continue to strive for these things without fear, because our standing with God doesn't depend on our perfect performance today. If we keep the faith and remember that we, too, are beloved children of God, then we have already won the race.
So, I have a challenge for each of you today: Look in a mirror and tell yourself that you are worthy of God's love. Say to yourself: "Today, I am going to go out into the world to spread the love of Christ and respect others as best I can." We might fail or succeed in some or all of these things, and that is alright. When you look in that mirror, remember that you are seeing the image of God—washed in grace, sealed by the Spirit, and named Beloved.
A Prayer for the Week Ahead
Let us pray to be faithful to our baptismal covenant.
For the grace to hear the voice of God calling us "Beloved" amidst the noise of the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the courage to respect the dignity of every human being, knowing that God shows no partiality.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the strength to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
For the joy of the Holy Spirit to descend upon us and remain with us.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Collect for The Baptism of Our Lord:
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
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