Baptism by Fire

Yesterday we looked at inner journies and epiphanies in the light of the Eastern Church's celebrations at this time of year.

After the wise astrologers have left, it is said that to avoid the ensuing child massacre Joseph and Mary took their family to Egypt. Esoteric and Gnostic christians are fascinated by this journey. Into the land of alchemy and secret initiation. (The question arises - what had Moses and the Israelite priests really been learning in the Egyptian temples hundreds of years before? Whose version to believe? And had this learning anything to do with the Essenes at the turn of the millennium, and their connections?)

Anyway, some 3 decades later, we find the (Essene?) prophet John the Baptizer thundering with a preaching that leaves little to the imagination as to what will happen if we don't "come to our senses right now." (The world seems to need these people. Al Gore and John the B could be kindred souls!) And on to this stage steps John's younger cousin, Jesus, (a fellow Essene?) and asks for baptism.

The orthodox christian version is that John doesn't want to, feeling "unworthy." But Jesus says "Do it anyway!"
The esoteric believer may see in this dialogue, words of a secret initiation. But here the exchange is done in full view - and as John immerses Jesus in the water, there is one of those Heaven-Earth exchanges that radically alter our perception of reality - "You Are My Beloved!"

For some, this is when "Jesus became Christ."

Maybe. Maybe not.

But the point is the "Do it anyway"
- no time to "waste," anymore
- I Am prepared enough for what it is I have to do
- Immerse me in this flow

When we make this decision for ourselves, the Heavens may open and fire descend. Perhaps we are the only ones who know. Perhaps others may see. But in whichever case, when we let ourselves live the life that was intended to be lived in us we become the Beloved.

Not that we were anything other than cosmic lover and beloved. But in the immersion and the fire brought on by willingness and surrender to inner purpose, we suddenly know.

Let's do it anyway! Let's celebrate this Baptism by immersion and fire!

in Light

John O