司祭　スコット　マーレー
The Rev. Scott Murray

Epiphany 1

On this First Sunday of the season of Epiphany, I want to focus our attention on a gospel which is not in the canon of scripture, the gospel of Philip. Never heard of it? It's probably dates from the second or third century, rather gnostic in its content. It contains reflections on an individual's quest for salvation, and contains also a few of Jesus' sayings which are considered by scholars to be "genuine".
What makes Philip interesting reading for this morning is the account of Jesus' baptism. The text states that after Jesus went down into the water, he immediately came up out of the Jordan laughing. How strange! Not quite what one should expect in a esoteric gospel. All the familiar parts of the scene - dove, voice, cloud, etc, are omitted. The only editorial comment by Philip is that Jesus' laughter was directed toward everything in the world, which Jesus regarded with "contempt". Now this contempt with the world seems more in line with gnostic thinking, I believe, but one might find parallels, I think, with the buddhist concept of indifference. This is, I think for Jesus (of Philip and the other 4 gospels) and us, not a sneering at the things of the world, but an epiphany of our place in world and its "things" in relationship with the Creator. All manor of things (including familial relationships!) become secondary (become contemptuous) in light of this epiphany.
But to return to the laughter. The main point and main epiphany.  This had to have come from an immense feeling of joy and of peace. A new and startling look at creation, to know that all is well and all is loved. Perhaps we should come up with a term like "holy mirth."  Like you've been let in on a  great big secret. Actually, the secret of the universe. "This is my Son,  with whom I am well pleased." We are his children, with whom He is well pleased. We are accepted unconditionally. According to Philip, Jesus didn't come out of the water preaching. He didn't come out crying. He didn't come out speaking in tongues. He came up with a belly laugh.  It's the hilarity  of being welcomed fully by a loving creator. And Jesus' laughter is contagious, as all laughter is. We too are invited to jump into the Jordan, to emerge from it dripping in joy, doubled over in cheer. This is the epiphany of the mystery hidden in the ages.