The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey W. Mello’s Sermon from Christ Church, Middle Haddam on January 11, 2026, includes the following powerful quote. You can read the entire sermon below.
Though the carols and celebrations of Christmas were just over two weeks ago, it feels as though in that time the world has lived a year’s worth of pain.
Regardless our political affiliations, we must agree that how the children of God are treating each other right now is not what God intends. It is not how a beloved child, who knows that they are beloved, treats another they believe to be beloved.
On this matter, I am not willing to agree to disagree.
So if this is how we are treating each other, it must be for one of two reasons. Either we do not understand ourselves as beloved children of God. Or we must not see the other as one.
But we are beloved children of God. You are a beloved child of God. They are beloved children of God, whoever “they” are for you.
I wonder if we have simply forgotten who we are.
Have we forgotten that God saw us exactly as we are and came to be among us, as one of us, anyway?
Have we forgotten that Jesus stood on the bank of the river, saw humanity unfold before him, and he got in the river anyway?
Have we forgotten that getting in the river is where God calls us, and where Grace is to be found?
It is tempting to stay up on shore, safe in our groups of those who think like us, look like us, pray like us, love like us.
But that is not where we will find God. It is not where we will experience the transformative power of God’s love.
You simply cannot look into the eyes of someone you know to be a beloved child of God and end their life, or let them starve, or tolerate their suffering.
We can only do that if we see them as something less than who God made them to be and think of them less than God does as God’s own beloved.
We can only do that if we refuse to go where Jesus went; If we refuse to go where Jesus calls us.
The news if filled of late with story after story of the worst we humans can do to one another.
It is tempting to want to stay up on shore, shaking our heads and throwing our arms up on the air.
But, if we call ourselves Christians, if we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, that includes following him wherever he goes.
January 11, 2026
Epiphany 1A: Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 29; Acts 10:34-43; Matthew 3:13-17
I am the last one in the water at the beach or a pool. Though raised in New England, it takes me forever to get in, if I get in at all.
I am happy to sit and watch others in the chilly water from the comfort of my beach chair or towel.
And you’re not getting me by using euphemisms like “refreshing” or telling me it’s “fine, once you get used to it.” I don’t want to get used to it, thank you very much. Your blue lips and chattering teeth don’t exactly entice my plunging in, either.
In sharp contrast, Jesus wades right into the water.
At his baptism by John the Baptist in the River Jordan, God in Jesus comes to the world, yet again.
It is at this moment that Jesus’ public ministry begins.
Jesus chooses to begin his ministry to the world, in front of the whole world, by getting in the river with the whole world.
The scene at the River Jordan was not like Baptism as we know it today. Imagine the whole of humanity coming to the River to get themselves ready for the coming Messiah.
People of all sorts and conditions coming to John to repent of their sins and start life again.
It is this scene that Jesus comes upon on the bank of the Jordan. The chaos and brokenness of the world was in the river, and Jesus chooses to get in.
Jesus did not watch from a distance, up on shore. Jesus did not agree with John that it was John who should be coming to Jesus, not the other way around.
Before there were the healings, before the feedings, before the teachings, before anything else, Jesus walked into the river where all of humanity splashed about him seeking a new life; a new beginning.
When Jesus gets out of the river, he will bring the hope of new life with him wherever he goes. From that moment on, Jesus will be the river to which others are drawn and where others will find new life.
But before that, he was completely submersed in it, just like everyone else.
I love to imagine that moment, when Jesus is under the water being held by John the baptizer. Just before he submerges, he can hear the roar of the crowd around him.
He can hear people yelling to each other, children laughing and screaming, the noise of splashing; the sound of all humanity in all its loud chaos and then – nothing.
(pause)
The world is silenced. He holds his breath. He can hear his heart beating. He is suddenly alone in the middle of the crowd, just him and his heart – the heartbeat of God.
As he emerges from the water and gasps for his first breath, the noise of the world resumes, but above it all, through it all, is the still small voice of God.
“This is my Son,” the voice says.
“The one I love.”
“The one in whom I am well pleased.”
And that is all Jesus needs to walk back out of the river, soaking wet, dripping with Grace. He walks out of the water, up the banks of the river and into his ministry to bring all the world into loving relationship with the God who made them, no matter what.
Jesus walked into the river; God joining with all of humanity. And then God walked back out, inviting all of humanity to join in the transforming work of Love in the world.
We have much to celebrate here this morning at Christ Church, Middle Haddam.
We gathered yesterday morning at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford and joined in the ordination of Maggie Labinski and three others to the Sacred Order of Priests. It was a joyous celebration, and Maggie will make a terrific priest in the church.
One of the gifts Maggie brings to the priesthood is her willingness to get in the river with the people of God. She isn’t afraid to get wet, if you will. It is where she finds the mystery and power of God.
This morning, we will confirm and receive members of this community into the Episcopal church. We will standing next to those longing to renew their Baptismal Vows and we will all say, once again, that “we will, with God’s help.” We will get in the river. We will follow Jesus into the world. We will bear witness to the transformative power of God’s love.
And this morning we will bless the bell, name her Page, and dedicate her in memory of, and thanksgiving for, the life and ministry of a faithful priest who was not afraid to wade deep in the water of humanity, confident that that was where she would find God.
And she was right.
There is much to celebrate here this morning. And I am so grateful. My heart and my Spirit have been in deep need of reasons to celebrate.
Though the carols and celebrations of Christmas were just over two weeks ago, it feels as though, in that time, the world has seen a year’s worth of pain.
Regardless our political affiliations, we must agree that how the children of God are treating each other right now is not what God intends. It is not how a beloved child, who knows that they are beloved, treats another they believe to be beloved.
On this matter, I am not willing to agree to disagree.
So, if this is how we are treating each other, it must be for one of two reasons. Either we do not understand ourselves as beloved children of God. Or we must not see the other as one.
But we are beloved children of God. You are a beloved child of God. They are beloved children of God, whoever “they” are for you.
I wonder if we have simply forgotten who we are.
Have we forgotten that God saw us exactly as we are and came to be among us, as one of us anyway?
Have we forgotten that Jesus stood on the bank of the river, saw humanity unfold before him, and he got in the river anyway.
Have we forgotten that getting in the river is where God calls us, and where Grace is to be found?
It is tempting to stay up on shore, safe in our groups of those who think like us, look like us, pray like us, love like us.
But that is not where we will find God. It is not where we will experience the transformative power of God’s love.
You simply cannot look into the eyes of someone you know to be a beloved child of God and end their life, or let them starve, or tolerate their suffering.
We can only do that if we see them as something less than who God made them to be and think of them less than God does as God’s own beloved.
We can only do that if we refuse to go where Jesus went.
If we refuse to go where Jesus calls us.
The news if filled of late with story after story of the worst we humans can do to one another.
It is tempting to want to stay up on shore, shaking our heads and throwing our arms up on the air.
But, if we call ourselves Christians, if we claim to be followers of Jesus Christ, that includes following him wherever he goes, including into the river of humanity.
As the baptized, we promised not to stay up on the shore. This morning, we will promise not to, once again.
For Maggie to be the priest God needs her to be, she will need to get in the river. For Christ Church Middle Haddam to be the church God needs you to be, you will need to show the world what it looks like to get in the river and make God’s love known above the noise of the world like that bell will for ages to come.
And for us to know our belovedness before God, we have got to get in the river with the brokenness in the world and honor the belovedness of every human being, every child of God who we will find there.
And when it gets overwhelming, take a dunk under the water. Listen for a bit to the heartbeat of God and come back up, take a deep breath and hear God tell you again that you are God’s child. You are beloved. And in you God is well pleased.
Wade in the water. I’m not going to lie; it isn’t always easy. It can be quite a shock to the system, and I pray you never get used to it.
Wade in the water, anyway. For it might just be where the world needs you, where God needs you, where Jesus calls you to join him, that the whole world might emerge, dripping with Grace, radiating with the love of God.
Let us wade in the water, with God’s help.
AMEN.
© 2026 The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey W. Mello