Fr Denis Hooper OSB
“The River Jordan is deep and wide
Milk and honey on the other side.
All my trials Lord
Soon be over”
That is from an old American spiritual hymn. It is a hymn despair and of hope. Some of us here are old enough to remember Elvis Presley’s emotional rendition of this hymn.
But the River Jordan where Jesus was baptised is neither deep nor
wide. It is shallow and it’s murky. At this time of year, thousands of people visit the cloudy waters of the Jordan River to remember Jesus’ baptism and to renew their own.
In last Sunday’s Gospel we read about the baptism of Jesus in the River
Jordan. In today’s gospel, we return to the River Jordan to hear John the Baptist proclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God.
The River Jordan today spans two countries – Jordanian soldiers stand
guard on their side and Israeli soldiers stand on the other side. There is a Franciscan church on the West Bank of the Jordan. This was reopened only recently, as thousands of landmines had to be cleared to
make the area safe. Over on the east Bank, just a few metres away in
the Kingdom of Jordan, there is another Church and baptismal site.
Local people here have been cut off from one another for decades by
war and politics. As a result, church services are held with congregations sitting on both sides of the River Jordan – with a priest standing in the middle of the river between them.
Every now and then, separated families come down to the River to hold a picnic with one another… one group on the West Bank side, and their exiled relatives no more than 10 metres away on the Jordanian side.
The River Jordan is a fascinating place, an important place, a holy place. Its misty waters unite Christians from North, South, East and West. Christians come together here in a common baptism and, with John, acclaim Jesus as the Lamb of God.
This acclamation and belief in who Jesus is, determines who we are too. Our common baptism and belief in Jesus binds us together and unites all Christians as one. Like John, Christians point to Jesus and reveal him to others. Recognising Jesus in this way brings with it responsibilities, because if we point to him, we must then live according to his teachings.
He brings all Christians together. This is a witness to the world, a
witness to the unity that is possible between Christians who share in the waters of baptism and who join together in the Lord. Right now Christians in two countries – Russia and Ukraine are at war with one another. As a community we have been praying for peace in Ukraine on a daily basis.
Last week Pope Francis called this war “a crime against God and
humanity”
The belief in Jesus and the fact that Christians in Ukraine and Russia
share the same baptism makes this war scandalous and indeed is a sin
against God. A very poor advertisement for Christianity for sure. The commonality of Baptism – should be – the starting point in the resolution of this terrible and scandalous war. So, as the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins in a few days’ time, perhaps now is the time to reflect: what rivers separate us? Do we let them divide us, or do we swim together in the same waters? Are we kept apart on the opposite banks, or do we cross to the other side?
The common baptism of all Christians should be our witness for all the world: no rivers and no wars should ever keep us apart. The starting point in conflicts between Christians – from Russia or Ukraine – from North, South, East or West – the starting point should always be what we share together – our common Baptism – for we are all
disciples of the Chosen One of God.