It is a longstanding tradition in the church to read the story of Jesus’ baptism in the season of Epiphany, just after the celebration of Christmas. Even before the emergence of the Revised Common Lectionary and the pattern of readings that many congregations follow, there were traditions marking the events of Jesus’ life before the beginning of his formal ministry during this season of the year. The Gospels place Jesus’ baptism by John at the beginning of his ministry, when he had become an adult. They also report the presentation of the infant Jesus in the temple, a separate ceremony. For congregations where the baptism of infants is common practice, there can be a bit of confusion about the different ceremonies, but it is clear from the Gospel record that Jesus was an adult and acting independently from his parents when he presented himself to John for baptism.

For worshipers whose primary source of readings of the scripture come from worship, it can be a bit confusing to celebrate the Baptism of Christ early in Epiphany and then wait for several weeks before reading the stories that come next in the Gospel. After Jesus is baptized, he is led to the wilderness where he is tempted, but those stores are reserved for the first week of Lent. The length of the season of Lent is 40 days - the length of Jesus temptation in the wilderness.

So today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, but we will wait until the first Sunday of Lent to read the next part of the gospel. It can be confusing to those who haven’t read the Gospels in their entirety. Our Revised Common Lectionary does an interesting thing with the texts for the Baptism of Christ. The reading of the Hebrew Scripture for today is Isaiah 43:1-7. This reading is part of a section of Isaiah that is offered as a reassurance to Israel in the midst of exile. The prophet reminds the people that God has not forgotten them, even though they have been scattered after the trauma of the political defeat of the nation of Israel. Even though they were conquered and even though they have been forced into dispersed exile in many different locations, God still has love for the people of Israel.

Furthermore, the prophet declares that God will gather the people together once again: “Do not fear, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east, and from the west I will gather you; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up,’ and to the south, ‘Do not withhold; bring my sons from far away and my daughters from the end of the earth.”

It is easy to see why the Isaiah text is paired with the baptism of Jesus. Isaiah says, “I have called you by name, you are mine.” At Jesus’ baptism a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Both passages of scripture are powerful reports of God’s love and calling of people. God is actively engaged in the events of this life. The paring, however, has resulted in Christians often reading the Isaiah text as if it is an individual calling. It is common to quote that text at a funeral, reminding grieving family and friends that the deceased person belongs to God and is claimed and beloved by God.

It is important, however, to remind ourselves that God’s redeeming action applies not just to individuals, but to groups of people as well. This reminder, I believe, is especially important in this particular season of the life of the church. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the scattering of the church. Many church members have been forced by the pandemic to alter their patterns of church attendance. Our congregations are less focused on the experiences of corporate worship in one place, and have become more media focused. People connect with churches over the Internet. Instead of all being in the same room, we experience worship in many different places. Some are worshiping at home, some in other places. Some are watching live, others watch a recording of the service at a different time. Our community is scattered. It is not hard to understand some of the feelings of the people of Israel during the Exile as we go through a different kind of exile in the contemporary church.

Today, as we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus, the words of Isaiah offer a reminder of God’s promise to us. We are called to community once again. Despite our fears about the future of the church in these challenging times, God has not abandoned us. God still knows us and calls us by name. We will be tested. There will be trials. But we won’t be overwhelmed. We won’t be consumed. God has demonstrated over and over again through the history of our people: “You are precious in my sight, and honored, and I love you.”

As together we face hard times as a church we need to be reminded that God is not finished with us yet. We still have a future. We are called to community.

Different people will hear the call to return to community in different ways. Just as Israel didn’t go back to the way things were before the exile, we will not go back to some pre-pandemic state. God is always calling us toward the future. There will be changes and none of us can fully understand where the church is going in these times. However, the experiences of our people and the words of our scriptures assure us that God is not just calling us as individuals. God is not just expressing love to us as individuals. God calls us together into community.

Isaiah was called to preach difficult lessons during a difficult phase of the history of Israel. I believe that contemporary preachers are called to preach difficult lessons as well. God’s gift of salvation is not just a promise to individuals - it is also a promise to the community of believers.

Once again we are reminded that we are in this together and that our lives are bound up with the lives of others.