This past Thursday, thousands of individuals gathered at the National Cathedral to bid farewell to former President Jimmy Carter. Amid the expected media coverage which analyzed every detail – from seating arrangements to the controversial performance of John Lennon’s “Imagine” – one moment cut through the noise with striking clarity: Jason Carter speaking about his “paw paw.”

Merry Christmas!  Thanks so much for stopping by to read this homily for THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD January 12, 2025.  I appreciate your sharing this on your social media posts and your feedback and comments…  I’m also grateful for all those who’ve asked for the audio version and share them as well at SOUNDCLOUD click HERE or from ITUNES as a podcast HERE.  May the Lord be glorified in your reading and sharing- Father Jim – 

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What was so profound wasn’t Jason’s sharing of typical family anecdotes or political achievements. Instead, he spoke of his grandfather’s profound faith in Jesus Christ. Jason began by saying:  “In my church, we sing ‘From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head, I will sing of the goodness of God,'” he recalled. “I don’t know how many people can say that. I know I can’t. But my grandfather certainly can. From the moment he woke up until he laid his head, his life was a testament to the goodness of God.”

In our current climate, where faith is often pushed to the margins of public life, Jason Carter’s words rang especially true. Here, in the midst of all these movers and shakers nationally and internationally, a gathering of those who once wielded or still seek earthly power, he reminded us that his grandfather’s greatest identity wasn’t as President, but as a follower of Christ.

This brings us to today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which beautifully concludes our Christmas season. The readings present us with a profound message about God’s universal call to salvation. In our second reading from Acts, we encounter Cornelius, a Roman Centurion – someone who would have been viewed with deep suspicion, even hatred, by the early Christian community. As a symbol of Roman occupation, he represented everything that had oppressed God’s people.

Yet God had other plans. Through Peter’s encounter with Cornelius, we witness a revolutionary moment in salvation history. Peter declares, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” This wasn’t just a polite acknowledgment, this wasn’t trying to be inclusive – it was a radical revelation that God’s love transcends all human boundaries and an invitation to all those who feel they don’t belong, to those feeling hopeless or helpless, the beauty of the Christmas message – God has become one of us, one with us so that we can become one with God.

This truth echoes in our first reading from Isaiah, where God speaks of His chosen servant who “shall bring forth justice to the nations.” This servant will not cry out or make his voice heard in the street – reminiscent of Jesus’s own humble baptism in the Jordan, where He lined up with sinners despite being sinless Himself.

When Jesus emerged from those waters, as Luke’s Gospel tells us, “heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.'” This moment wasn’t just about Jesus – it was about all of us. Through our own baptism, we too become beloved sons and daughters of God.

Jimmy Carter understood this profound truth. Despite holding the highest office in our nation, he recognized that his true identity lay in being a child of God. Like Cornelius, he knew that genuine greatness comes not from worldly power but from humble service to God and neighbor.

As we conclude this Christmas season, we’re called to reflect on our own baptismal identity. Do we, like President Carter, live each day as a testament to God’s goodness? Do we, like St. Peter, recognize God’s presence in unexpected people and places? Do we, like Cornelius, allow that stirring of faith within, lead us to let go of our inhibitions, doubts and fears and grab hold of that hand of the Lord reaching out to us?  Do we, like Jesus, embrace humility and service as our path to true greatness?

The waters of baptism don’t just wash away sin – they immerse us in a new identity as God’s beloved children. In a world obsessed with status and power, may we remember that our highest calling isn’t to worldly success but to faithful discipleship. Like the humble carpenter from Nazareth who stepped into the Jordan, like the Roman Centurion who opened his heart to the Gospel, and like a peanut farmer who became president while never forgetting his true identity in Christ, may we too live as faithful witnesses to God’s universal love and mercy.

For in the end, it’s not about the positions we held or the power we wielded. It’s about whether we can say, like Jimmy Carter, that from morning until night, our lives testified to the goodness of God.