What2Say2Day? Today we celebrate the baptism of Jesus Christ. As we read the story in the Gospels we all note that Jesus was quite the adult when he was baptized. Most scholars believe he was 30 years old at this time. The baptism a;so signifies the official beginning of his ministry. There are varied ways to baptize someone into the community of faith and every religion, or non-religion, gas a way to baptize.
Baptism is a ceremonial action used to initiate someone into a particular group. Think of all the baptisms you've had over the years. Some of these may include making friends on your first day at a new school or getting your name tag at a new job. It may include the day your partner declared their love for you or the night your child offered to pay for dinner. There are many types of baptism for many kinds of reasons and they all have two things in common. They are done in community and they signify entering into a new life.
In our reading today from Mark 1:4-11 we see the same combination of community and new life. Jesus is baptized in front of a crowd and his ministry begins. No longer is he the son of a carpenter, no longer is he Mary's child, no longer is he that boy from Nazareth. Jesus is now ready to live what has been his purpose all along; the life of the Son of God.
In this, and in Jesus, God is pleased. My belief is that God loves us regardless of who or what we are. Of course, love isn't the same as like and I think sometimes God doesn't like some of the choices we make. As I finish this writing I want you to think of a few things...
If we are pleased every time something goes right in our lives, don't you think God is pleased as well? And if we can make better choices to help things in our life to go better, don't you think God wants to be there to help? And if God wants to help us make better choices in our life, don't you think God would surround us with people to help us live out our choices?
Try this today for a new life - Love God, Love others and Love yourself. Let's call the decision you make today to do these things your baptism.
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