+ In the Love of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Two weeks ago I got a phone call from the first friend I ever made. I hadn't heard his voice in at least 10, maybe 15, years. It was so much fun to talk with him again and to catch up on our lives. Has that ever happened to you? All of a sudden a voice out of the blue, and a wonderful relationship is restored.
Well, my little story is small stuff next to what happens in this morning's Gospel. The people of Israel hadn't heard God's voice for almost 400 years, not since God told the prophet Joel that one day God would pour out his Spirit on everyone. And over 500 years had passed since the prophet Isaiah had prayed that God would tear apart the heavens and come down.
But now, now! as Jesus rises up out of the water Isaiah's prayer is answered and the heavens are torn apart― the Greek word is schizo, from which we get the word schism, and it means a violent no-doubt-about-it rending, and suddenly the barrier between heaven and earth is gone! And the promised Spirit descends on Jesus, and then there is a voice― finally a voice after all these years! "You are my Son, the beloved!"
But when Jesus is baptized there's no adoring congregation to "ooh" and "ahh"; no celebration of the Holy Eucharist, no party at home or a nearby restaurant. Instead, the Spirit immediately drives him into the wilderness, for this beloved Son is a vulnerable human being, like you and me. Have you ever suffered a time of wilderness in your life? a season of temptation or testing? a time when "wild beasts" have threatened you? But also a time when "angels" have come to your side, and encouraged you and cared for you and helped you? If so, then you have spent time with Jesus, though you may not have known it at the time, and Jesus has spent time with you.
When Jesus emerges from the wilderness he is ready for his mission. And his mission is this: to proclaim the good news of God. Now to me the word "proclaim" sounds a little tame, but literally it means to "pro-clamor," to "cry out." Someone once said, "It's not good news if you can't shout it across the street!" For example, "we won the game!" or "it's a girl!" or "I got the job!" or . . . "It's time! God's kingdom is here!"
We know it's time, because the heavens are torn apart; we know it's time because the Spirit has come down; and we know it's time because we have heard God's voice again. And we know God's kingdom is here because we see it in person in Jesus.
Jesus goes to Capernaum and heals Peter's mother-in-law, and Peter's house becomes kingdom territory. Jesus feeds hungry people on a grassy field, and that grassy field becomes kingdom territory. Jesus eats with sinners and tax collectors in Levi's house, and Levi's table becomes kingdom territory. Jesus forgives a paralyzed man, and the bed on which he lies becomes kingdom territory. On the road to Jerusalem, the disciples argue about which of them is the greatest, and Jesus tells them that whoever would be greatest must be servant of all, for, he says, "I came not to be served, but to serve," and the road to Jerusalem becomes kingdom territory. Jesus enters Jerusalem, and Jerusalem becomes kingdom territory. Jesus challenges the money-changers in the Temple, and the Temple becomes kingdom territory. Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate, and Pontius Pilate's headquarters becomes kingdom territory. Jesus is nailed to the cross on Golgotha, and Golgotha becomes kingdom territory, for the sign on his cross doesn't say "The teacher of the Jews" or "The healer of the Jews" or "The prophet of the Jews." It says, "The king of the Jews."
And this morning, through this morning's Gospel, Jesus is still pro-clamoring: "It's time! God's kingdom is here!"
So now it's our turn. What will we do?
Well, to begin with, I'm sure that all of you are already doing something to transform wilderness territory into kingdom territory, but just haven't thought of it in those terms before. But I'm also sure that if you begin to think about what you're doing as transforming wilderness territory into kingdom territory, you will discover a new joy and a renewed passion for what you are already doing, because now you will recognize that you are helping God redeem the world.
Let me suggest three Lenten activities:
First, identify all the ways you are already transforming wilderness territory into kingdom territory.
Second, ask yourself, where is there wilderness territory in my life? Where is there anger, or hunger, or emptiness, or unforgiveness, or a broken relationship? And if you're ready for God to transform your wilderness territory into kingdom territory, let God know you're ready.
And third, ask yourself, where is there wilderness territory in my community, or somewhere else in the world, which I feel a deep desire to see transformed into kingdom territory? And then take a first concrete step to make that transformation happen.
I invite you to tell me your stories about how you are transforming wilderness territory into kingdom territory, so I can share them with the rest of the church, and together we can see how much we are learning about transforming wilderness territory into kingdom territory this Lent.
Let us pray.
Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven, with our help and through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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