Jesus’ Baptism Affirms Human Goodness
We are in deep winter. The days are growing colder, the news of national events more difficult than ever. In our exposed fear and stories of human pain, with every soundbite of hatred on display, we yearn for hope. At times, the work of being human together erupts in violence. It always has, it always will, and it always makes Jesus weep. Jesus, the one proclaimed king above all kings on Epiphany, calls us to the waters of renewal in baptism.
This Sunday, as the collective pain in our nation lives on, we turn to our sacred texts that set a framework for our lives. In Jesus’ baptism, we embrace the truth that humans are created good, and we have an opportunity to reclaim this goodness by “turning around.” The fancy name for this is repentance. The first step in our path of repentance turns our heads in self-reflection: What in this violence is mine to own? Where is God asking me to practice love above hate? How might I “turn around” a relationship in my own life?
May we be as quick to judge ourselves as we are others. May Jesus’ example of baptism inspire our own repentance that leads to renewal. And may we commit to doing this work together in the name of Christ.
