Beloved

16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3:16-17)

We are made of water and we depend on it for our survival. Water can be an agent of life and of death. With baptism - releasing the old, immersed in the new - it's both. While Jesus did not need to be cleansed from sin, he showed his solidarity with us by submitting to be baptized. God's declaration to and about Jesus was made before Jesus had performed a single miracle, healed any person, preached one sermon, or even called a disciple. God was already pleased. There is no thing God is waiting for us to do before declaring us Beloved.

We may not remember our moment of baptism, but we can honor the Spirit that walks in continued solidarity with us through the waters from death to life. Whether done for a baby or as an adult, by sprinkling or submersion, baptism signifies our acceptance of God's claim on us, and our commitment to live into that love - not to earn it, but to extend it to all.

34 Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. 37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. (Acts 10:34-38)