Baptism in the Wilderness

Homily for Sunday, December 14, 2025
The Third Sunday of Advent

This morning, I am going to baptize Frank.  Because Frank in a few weeks will return to China, where it may be difficult to find fellow Christians with whom to worship and pray, I want to be sure Frank has enough provisions in his “backpack,” as it were, to sustain him. But because we can carry only so much, we need to be judicious in how much we give him.  Frank, if when you return to China you were to take this morning’s order of service in which your baptismal vows are printed and that lists the scripture passages for today, your baptismal day; and if you were to regularly meditate on these vows and on these scripture passages, I trust that – to borrow an image from the story of the widow of Zarephath in the First Book of Kings (1 Kings 17) – God will not let your jug of oil fail nor your jar of meal go empty, so that you may be able to eat for many days.

First, this morning’s Old Testament lesson from Isaiah chapter 35: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad, the desert shall rejoice and blossom; like the crocus it will blossom abundantly, and rejoice with joy and singing.”   We all go through times of “wilderness,” times when we feel distant from God, when there may be a heaviness in our soul, when things may seem without hope and the outlook may seem dim.  Being a Christian does not exempt us from going through the “wilderness;” indeed, sometimes God allows us to experience “wilderness” in order to test and train us. Frank, when you experience “wilderness,” try not to be discouraged.  Know that times of “wilderness” are normal,and know that God is with you.  Please remain faithful in your prayer, for as we persevere in asking God for help – like,“Lord, let me know of your presence in this time;” or, “Please bring me through this wilderness” – in due time, when God knows we’re ready, “the wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,” and “the desert shall” once again “rejoice and blossom.”

Second, this morning’s Psalm,Psalm 146:  “Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help.”  This passage is true – those who have “the God of Jacob for their help,” “happy are they.”  Again, as with “wilderness,” being a Christian does not mean that we are exempt from unhappiness.  But the lifelong journey of walking in the Way of Jesus is a journey that leads into greater and greater joy.  In my experience, the joy that comes from walking in the Way of Jesus is kind of like the sun – there are cloudy days when it seems the sun is not out.  But Jesus is still there, and then, often when we’re not expecting it, the “sun” again breaks through.  My former spiritual director said that Jesus experienced joy throughout his life, even on the cross.  Seeing my puzzled expression, he added, “Because he was doing the Father’s will.” Frank, keep walking in the way of Jesus, who was close to the Father.  And bit by bit, over days,months and years, as you faithfully walk, you will continue to discover the ever-deepening well of joy – not always happiness, but joy – that comes from following Jesus.

Third, the lesson from James: “Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.  The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.”  Be patient in regards to your faith, Frank.  While you may receive some early “rains” as you begin this journey of following Jesus, sometimes the “rains” may fall late, and patience will be required.  To those who wanted to grow in their relationship with Jesus, St. Ignatius of Loyola counseled patience.  It may come as no surprise that Ignatius would counsel people not to shorten their prayer time – if you set aside, say, 30 minutes to pray, don’t go finding reasons to be done after 20.  But it may come as a surprise that Ignatius likewise counseled people not to extend their prayer time.  If you’ve set aside 30 minutes to pray, don’t pray for 40, or even for 32.  Praying longer risks being like the farmer digging around in the earth trying to make the seeds grow.  Be patient, Frank, and let go and let God.  Be faithful in your prayer, attending to your prayer regularly, if not daily.  For as we are faithful, God will in due time give us the growth we seek.

Lastly, in this morning’s Gospel lesson, “When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we wait for another?’  Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see:  the blind receive their sight, the lame walk,the lepers are cleansed, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.’”  Frank, in your journey the time may come when you may wonder, “Are you the one, Jesus…or shall I wait for another?”  If the time comes when you wonder if Jesus is “the one” or if you should “wait for another,” remember what you have heard and seen here at Trinity Parish.  In the short time you have come to know us, I hope we have born witness of Jesus’ power of salvation; that is, his power to“salve,” to heal.  You heard in late October, Frank, David’s stewardship announcement in which he singled out David MacNair for his care of the church gardens, in which he cited Richard for his many years of serving meals to the homeless, and in which he thanked Donna for her faithful service on the Altar Guild. If we were able truly to “hear” and “see” everyone here at Trinity, I have a hunch there would be plenty more similarly inspirational stories of how we, with God’s help, are part of Christ’s work of salvation.  Our discipleship may not always be glamorous,but each of us in our own and often not readily-seen way is doing our part in Jesus’ work to heal this world.  If ever you wonder if Jesus is “the one” or if you should wait another, please remember what you have heard and seen here at Trinity.

Frank, this is a lot to remember, I know.  If for whatever reason when you are in the “wilderness” or in some way unhappy or wondering why it’s taking so long to grow in your faith or questioning if Jesus really is “the one” or if you should seek another, maybe remember this one thing:  being a Christian is all about love.  Jesus loves us, and we therefore are to love one another.  On the one hand, we all know how to love; humans were born to love. Yet at the same time, it takes a lifetime to learn to love. Maybe when you return to China take this morning’s order of service with you. Remember your baptismal vows; pray with today’s passages.  Keep following Jesus.  Keep praying to Jesus, asking him for the grace to further open your heart to receive him.  And Jesus – who loves you, who will always be with you, who is always working on your behalf for your good – will help guide you in the way of walking in love as his disciple.