Baptism of Our Lord
“The Hound of Heaven”
Mark 1:4-11
January 11, 2015
In a diary, writing about himself, the poet Francis Thompson described the situation he found himself
in as a homeless man on the streets of London, addicted to opium. In an effort to get his life back he
sends to the editor of the Catholic monthly, two samples of his writing. One was an essay, the other a
poem. Months pass before the editor finally reads the soiled manuscript. He immediately perceives its
genius and set out to find the young poet Francis Thompson, but to no avail.
His poem, entitled, “The Hound of Heaven” is about the pursuit of God towards us. It begins this way:
I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the midst of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated,
Adown Titanic glooms of chasmed fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase,
And unperturbèd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
'All things betray thee, who betrayest Me'.
The poem belies the human condition regarding how we run from God. We run not aware that as long
as we run, that which we place our trust and future in will one day prove to be a lie. These will not be
able to provide us the security we need, the peace we crave, or the meaning we desire. These will, as
the poem declares, betray our trust. To say it another way, “Our hearts are restless until they find their
repose in thee.” (St. Augustine)
God, like a hound, pursues us. Not to do us harm, but to give us love, provide a foundation through
relationship, and encourage our spirit through meaningful work. God pursues us by tearing away any
and all barriers that stand between God and us. This is portrayed very well in our lesson for today
regarding the baptism of Jesus.
Pastor Greg Uthus
73 N. Hill Avenue ● Pasadena, CA 91106 ● 626 792-4169 ● www.hillavenuegrace.org
Mark, in his gospel, describes this event as “the heavens being torn apart.” God’s presence comes to us
in our world. In the story God’s Spirit descends upon Jesus. God has access to Jesus through the Spirit. I
can say this because of what follows in the story.
Immediately the Spirit drives Jesus into the wilderness. The ministry of Jesus begins here. The pursuit
of God is demonstrated here. The hound of heaven, the unhurried chase, the unperturbed pace, the
voice more instant than feet is known here. Barriers are being removed, or should I say, torn away in
order that God may have access to our lives.
“Is my gloom, after all, shade of His hand, outstretched caressingly? Ah, fondest, blindest, weakest, I
am he whom thou sleekest!”
This story of the baptism of Jesus is a story of God’s pursuit of us. Like a hound from heaven, God
comes to us, revealing an undying love born out of the fires of compassion that never grows cold,
removing barrier after barrier until that time when we give up the chase. In that moment, that calm,
quiet, yielding moment we discover the loving caress of God’s hand.
The barriers are many and varied. They may be a stubborn heart or willful disobedience. The removal
of the barrier is never easy. That is why it is a barrier. Struggle, discontentment, questions and
confusion often accompany the presence of a barrier. In order to have access to our heart the barrier
needs to be removed.
Only you know the struggle that is going on within you. Perhaps the struggle is the removal of the
barrier. God is tearing down that which stands between God and you. This may be something from
work or maybe at home. It may deal with your pride or insecurity. Whatever it is, it must be removed.
Allow the hound of heaven to catch you. Let the barrier be torn down. You will find rest for your soul,
peace in your life, and the purpose that can only come from God.
AMEN
Pastor Greg Uthus
73 N. Hill Avenue ● Pasadena, CA 91106 ● 626 792-4169 ● www.hillavenuegrace.org