Each year as the Christmas season ends, the church celebrates the feast of the baptism of Jesus on the first Sunday after the Epiphany, which falls on January 6 th . We mark the day with baptisms and by renewing yet again our own baptismal covenant. What a perfect day to do so. We read from the first chapter of Mark how Jesus came from Nazareth and was baptized by John in the Jordan River. 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.
Baptism is about turning from an old life and accepting the infinite possibilities of a new one.
Turning away from darkness and embracing the light. Symbolically, the newly baptized are often dressed in white clothes after their baptism to illustrate their unblemished state. This is the precisely the time when a time machine would be useful. And during supper Jesus got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and to wipe them with a towel that was tied around him.