Proper 24B - 2024

NOTE: This sermon was delivered on the occasion of the baptism of Stella Virginia Branch and Matthew Hardy Yancey

8:00am Service

Sermon for Proper 24, Year B
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
The Rev. Andrew McLarty

Imagine, if you will, moments of some of the greatest live music performances in modern history: Prince's lead guitar solo of While my Guitar Gently Weeps at the George Harrison Tribute in 2004, Pink Floyd Live at Pompeii, or Queen at Live Aid...

James and John seek places of honor in His glory, longing to sit at His right and left hand. It is a bold request, but Jesus uses this moment to teach them—and us—a deeper truth about what it means to follow Him. They are bold, full of zeal and energy. Mark tells us earlier that Jesus gave then the nickname Boanerges— Sons of Thunder. He asks, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

• a baptism is not only of water but also of spirit, commitment, and service.
• "Power" in the Kingdom of God is different now- not defined in the way it always has been. Power is not about control and coercion. Instead, it is about service.
• Jesus reverses and redefines the "largeness" of the Gospel.
• Reverses common understanding of what power is.
• Redefines the patronage system, turning it on its head.
• Jesus’ mission is “to serve and to give his life to liberate many people”
  • It is a privilege to preach to you each week. It is something I greatly enjoy and take seriously. What are acts of service and Christian expression that you take joy in doing?

Baptism is an entrance into this life of service. Later when we baptize Stella Virginia Branch and Matthew Hardy Yancey, we are not merely performing a ritual; we are initiating someone into a community whose purpose is to live as Christ lived—selflessly, sacrificially, and lovingly.

In the waters of baptism, we die to a life of selfish ambition and are reborn into a life where we seek to serve others. Today, as we baptize, we affirm that the one being baptized is not just joining a church but is embracing a new way of living—a way marked by grace, compassion, and servanthood.

Amen.

10:30am Service

Sermon for Proper 24, Year B
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
The Rev. Andrew McLarty

Beloved in Christ, today we gather at St. Paul’s to celebrate a sacred moment: the baptism of a Stella and Matthew into the body of Christ. It is a time of joy, renewal, and a profound reminder of our calling as disciples of Jesus. The Gospel reading from Mark 10:35-45 offers us a powerful insight into the nature of this calling and the life we are invited to embrace through baptism.

In the passage, James and John, two of Jesus’ closest disciples, come to Him with a request. They seek places of honor in His glory, longing to sit at His right and left hand. It is a bold request, but Jesus uses this moment to teach them—and us—a deeper truth about what it means to follow Him. They are bold, full of zeal and energy. Mark tells us earlier that Jesus gave then the nickname Boanerges— Sons of Thunder. He asks, “Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” These words echo the significance of today’s sacrament: a baptism not only of water but also of spirit, commitment, and service.

Jesus then clarifies that in His kingdom, greatness is not found in power or position but in servanthood. “Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.” He turns the world’s values upside down, showing that true honor comes from humility and love. For even the Son of Man “came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Baptism is an entrance into this life of service. When we baptize, we are not merely performing a ritual; we are initiating someone into a community whose purpose is to live as Christ lived—selflessly, sacrificially, and lovingly. In the waters of baptism, we die to a life of selfish ambition and are reborn into a life where we seek to serve others. Today, as we baptize, we affirm that the one being baptized is not just joining a church but is embracing a new way of living—a way marked by grace, compassion, and the pursuit of justice.

Our calling, like that of James and John, is to drink from the cup that Jesus drinks, which may bring us to places of sacrifice, yet also leads us to the profound joy found in serving God and neighbor. Baptism symbolizes this commitment. As we are washed with the water, we are reminded of the cleansing power of God’s love and the renewal of the Holy Spirit. But more than that, we are reminded of the path ahead—a path where we are called to serve, to forgive, to heal, and to love without reservation.

So today, as we welcome a new life into the covenant of grace, let us all renew our commitment to follow Christ’s example. Let us remember that our baptism is not just a moment but a lifelong journey, a call to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world. Let us serve one another, and in doing so, discover the true greatness that comes from living a life of sacrificial love.

Amen.