After John the Baptizer’s proclamation of the coming of the Lord, and before his own baptism, Jesus observed members of the established religious order coming for baptism. He wasn’t gentle in his words to them. But the essence of his criticism makes clear the heart of his own ministry—bearing good fruit that will last. Today’s painting shows the feet of someone leaving the waters of baptism, bearing the good news out into the world. We live out our baptismal promises every day, and in fulfilling them we bear our lasting fruit. Last Sunday, during our bishop’s visit, under usual circumstances we would have renewed our baptismal covenant. Perhaps in your prayer time today, you could prayerfully renew your own promises, found on pages 304-05 of the Prayer Book, remembering that in every way we rely on “God’s help.”
The Holy Gospel Matthew 3:7-12
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, “We have Abraham as our ancestor”; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ‘I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing-floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’
Baptism
Mike Moyers (contemporary)
Acrylic on Canvas