EPIPHANY 1B - Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11 - 11 January 2009 - A sermon given by The Rev. Peter A. Munson for St. Ambrose Episcopal Church, Boulder, Colorado

The Gift of Role Reversal

SITUATIONS OF ROLE REVERSAL

When was the last time you caught yourself in a situation and you said, “Wow! The roles have really been reversed!”?

You, the adult child, are now taking care of an aging mother or father.

You, the younger sibling, are now looking out for your older sibling.

You thought you were all done raising children and suddenly you are raising a grandchild.

The boss comes to you and asks for your advice on a thorny issue.

You find yourself sitting on the floor with your child or grandchild or Sunday School student, and that little one, in their playing and creative storytelling, reminds you of something important that you had forgotten.

You go to a book-signing of an author you have always admired, and that author asks you to share something that you have written. Or a pianist whose ability is clearly way beyond your own says, “I’d love for you to play something for me! Would you do that, please?”

OUR REACTIONS

These situations can sometimes make us squirm. We think to ourselves, “Something isn’t right here! This is all backwards, all mixed up! I wasn’t expecting to be in this situation. I’m not sure what to do in this role. I’m used to my usual role!”

We can doubt ourselves.

Do I still know how to get down on the floor and play with a child?

Do I really have some insight that is useful to my boss?

Can I tell my mom or dad that I think it’s definitely time that they stop driving, for safety reasons?

Am I really going to read this very personal bit of writing to this person, that I’m not even sure is any good?

JOHN THE BAPTIST

If you’ve ever noticed any of these thoughts or feelings running through you, then you can probably identify with what was going through John the Baptist’s head as he saw Jesus approaching the Jordan River. In one of the four gospels, we get a glimpse of what John was thinking, because he said it out loud.

According to Matthew, John said, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”

In other words, “This is all wrong, Jesus. It should be the other way around. You’re the Messiah. I am the one who has been preparing the way for you to come. I am not worthy to untie the thong of your sandal. I’m like the opening act that nobody pays that much attention to. You are the headliner. And now you want me to baptize you? This is not at all the way I pictured it. I’m not sure that I can do this.”

OTHER REACTIONS

We can have all sorts of reactions when it comes to role reversal. Our reactions, of course, can depend on which role we were in to begin with.

If you were in the loftier position...

We might be starting over in a new career and think that some of the things we’re being asked to do are beneath us. “I’m way past this!”

We may think that doing something puts us in a less than dignified position. “You think I’m going to get down on the floor and play with her? How am I supposed to get back up?”

If you were in the “lower” position...

As with John’s situation, we can have second thoughts about whether or not we are up to the task.

You want me to sing the solo part?

You really think that I am ready to do the majority of the driving on our trip to Kansas City?

Do you really want advice from me?

LEARNING FROM JESUS AND JOHN

It seems to me that there are things we can learn from both Jesus and John.

Jesus teaches us lessons about humility and trusting and respecting the gifts of other people.

First, humility: it takes some humility to move to what most people would consider the “lower” place. The boss who genuinely seeks advice from his or her employees is saying, “I don’t have all the answers. You have wisdom, too. Let’s hear it.”

The Messiah who says, in effect, I need to be baptized, too, just like all these other folks you have been baptizing, is saying something important. He’s saying, among other things, “I’m in this life journey with all of you. I share your temptations, your struggle to know and do God’s will. I am a human being, just like you.”

When we move from the loftier position to the lower one, we are acknowledging our vulnerability. We are being “down to earth”, which is what being humble really means. Jesus was saying, “I’m not way above all the rest of you. I just have a different calling. Messiah is admittedly a pretty big calling. But you all are called by God, too.”

We learn from Jesus something about trusting others, and respecting the gifts and dignity of each person. “John, you’re really good at preaching repentance and this whole baptizing thing. No one does this better than you do. I recognize this gift in you, and submit to your authority over me in this area.”

Jesus picked some people to carry out his work - the carrying on of the message that the kingdom of God has come. He put his trust in the gifts of these twelve. One of them betrayed him and killed himself. They all betrayed him, in one way or another, at the end. But they came back. His trust in them was well-founded. They had something to offer.

Sometimes, when you go to a concert, the opening act is really good, too. Jesus knew something about respecting and trusting the people around him, and he invited them to use their particular gifts for the good of the kingdom.

And what do we learn from John?

I suppose it has something to do with moving past the second-guessing and trusting that we do indeed have something to offer.

Yes, I can step into this role reversal thing with my parents, and continue to love them, and offer my own wisdom. We are all adults now, after all. I’m not a child anymore, just because I am always their child.

I can share my insights with my boss. I have something to offer. I see some things going on that he or she might be overlooking. My boss seems to genuinely want my opinion. I can share that.

Oh, what the heck. I can take a risk here. I can sing this solo. I can read what I’ve written, even though I’m a little terrified. I can come to the recital and play this piece that I’ve learned, even though I’m not the best student this teacher has - by a long shot.

John teaches us something about being faithful, it seems to me. The moment comes. On the one had, we say, “Who am I to do this?” On the other hand, we say, “I have a chance to baptize the Messiah? When is this opportunity going to come around again? Let me take a deep breath. He’s asked me. Okay, let’s go for it!”

Following Jesus has very little to do with sitting on the sidelines and watching others do something. Being a Christian is not a spectator sport. It involves risk-taking, entering into situations that you know will be conflicted, learning new things, going where you don’t feel totally comfortable, but trusting that God will indeed be with you, and - because of that - everything will be okay.

CONCLUSION

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus submitted to John’s authority, and asked John to baptize him in the Jordan River. At the very end of his ministry, he got up from the table, tied a towel around himself, poured water into a basin, and washed the disciples’ feet. It was another case of role reversal - perhaps the classic case.

We follow a Lord who regularly flipped things around. He ate with sinners and prostitutes, made Samaritans the heroes of his stories, chewed out the respected religious leaders, gave children the time of day, drank wine and broke the long-established sabbath laws. Then, when his life was about to end, he washed his disciples’ feet, probably knowing - as he did it - that they were all about to fall asleep or run away from him during his time of need.

We follow a Lord who cares about people more than he does about roles, status, titles, and degrees.

So the next time we find ourselves in a role reversal situation, perhaps - after being honest about whatever we are feeling - we can sit lightly to our reversal in fortune, and remember that our Lord is probably up to something, and remind ourselves that He is with us, and it’s going to be okay - even though it might feel all out of whack.

Sometimes role reversal is a gift from God, and we just need to receive it and step into it, and see where it takes us.