The Rev Melissa Remington

 Hearing God's Voice Jan 9, 2022 By Rev. Melissa Remington Can you hear the voice of God? Many times God's voice is quoted as that still small voice. In our readings this morning we hear: "Thus says the Lord", several times in Isaiah, and next, "the voice of the Lord", several times in Psalm 26, and finally, "a voice came from heaven" in Luke 3:22. Tied into the voice of God is the images of the power of water. We are reminded God's voice and the power of water are life giving both physically and spiritually. When have you heard God's voice? When have you experienced the power of water? The power of water is easier to reflect on because we can see water and our bodies are 75 % water. The unborn child develops in a body of water in the womb. We cannot live without water and from our very beginning we were fully immersed in it. So, it is no wonder that our Christian Baptism involves the immersion or pouring on of water as an outward sign of our spiritual birth as a child of God and the power of the Holy Spirit invisible yet present with us. Jesus' baptism is described as full immersion in the river Jordan and upon his rising he reaches up to the heavens as the Holy Spirit symbolized by a dove descends upon him. And God's voice is heard, "And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased'." God's voice calls out to us too, as our lessons remind us. God call's each one of us by name and desires our immersion into the life restoring waters of Christian faith. Like when our parents or guardians name us at birth... in baptism, we are called by name and with water we are baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and sealed as Christ's own forever. Although our tradition does not fully immerse us in a pool of water; we still stand before the baptismal font and are symbolically immersed in God's love and protection for when we swim through the rivers and streams of life. I think Second Isaiah makes a distinction between living life with fear tagging along versus living life with the gift of the Holy Spirit tagging along. "DO not fear for I am with you". These verses are a reminder that God is with us, we are God's beloved. And yes, even when we get immersed in the messy, scary places in life, God is with us. God does not pluck us up and out of the messy places of life or scary places that can be likened to being in the rapids or intense fires. The promise is God will walk through the messiness of life with us and remain with us no matter what the outcome. God will love us to the end. "I have called you by name," "I will be with you" "I love you". Isaiah God is telling us God is with us. God loves us. But like in all relationships there must be reciprocity or a mutual connection and exchange back and forth. That reciprocity is symbolized by the Sacrament of Baptism and our life journey of trying to grow spiritually and follow the beloved Son. So, perhaps the question we can ask ourselves this week is, "Am I striving to live into the meaning of my baptism or if I am not baptized, should I be?", and, "What more can I do to know God better, hear God's voice calling to me?" The Lucan account of Jesus' baptism in the River Jordan marks an outward sign of the beginning of his public ministry and the revealing of an inward grace of being God's beloved, chosen One. We are in turn baptized into all that Jesus represents. It is a beautiful sacrament filled with outwards signs of water, light by the paschal and baptismal candles, and the color of white, all pointing to an inward grace of new beginnings, life sustaining power, cleansing, and the promise of God's help and love for us especially when life gets messy. How do we live it out? ...well.... Sometimes we do it well and sometimes not so well. One way we can check to be sure we are on the right track is to follow our Baptismal Covenant. May we open our heart to the words and hear God's voice as we renew them later this am. When we renew our own Baptismal Covenant, we can be reminded that God calls us each by name to receive again and again the Holy Spirit and begin our public ministries again and again. What is your public ministry now? Where do you hear God calling you at home, at work, at school and in the community in all of its messiness or rapids to do some of the following? To continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread (church) and in the prayers.? IN other words, how is your practice of prayer going? How is your study of Scripture going? Are you seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Are you resisting temptations are you respecting the dignity of every human being? Whatever our roles and our life situations; may we walk with the spirit and act our baptism out; when we raise our arms to heaven in prayer May we hear God's voice. Here is a poem that I wrote about hearing God's voice: Hearing God's Voice by Rev Melissa Remington As I sat alone in my room I felt so full of gloom. I wished I could just--- hear God's voice. I knew I had to pray--- I had no choice. But as I quieted myself I reached out upon my window shelf Drawn toward beautiful bird song. And I knew then God had come along. I felt a warm breeze embrace my cheek As I drew further out the window to peak. The breeze gently whispered in my ear God is right here there is nothing to fear. Remember the angels you met today? How one reminded you to stop long enough to play The other held your hand when you took a tumble The last told you which way to go when you got lost and felt all a jumble. As I sat in my room No longer full of gloom A smile returned to my face As I realized God had been talking to me in every place. That where I went or where I sat - in each and every case God was talking to me, adding in a warm embrace. And I knew at that moment-I must share this talk offering God's love back wherever I walk. 1