Our baptism, like the baptism of Jesus, took
place in the presence of family, friends, and community. By walking into the
water, Jesus chose to be one with us. Immersed in our reality of pain,
suffering, and joy, he begins his baptism as an embarkment on his journey of
how to live with peace and models how we can integrate it in our own lives as
well.
When I reflect on the word “immerse,” it means giving of myself completely to a book, movie,
project, activity, or an idea, where I cannot possibly think of anything else.
As the new year begins with the renewal of baptismal promises, I find myself
pondering, “How fully immersed am I in my
faith? How is it lived out in my daily choices and response to others? Are my
actions leading me to a greater and deeper relationship with God? Am I able to
dive in and reciprocate the love and commitment God has generously given to me?
What would that look like?” What surfaces my mind and arrests my attention
is the invitation to see beyond my limitations, preoccupations, freedom from my
self-imposed faults, and responsibilities. It opens my heart and mind, urging
me towards God’s incredible capacity to love, forgive, and make me whole again.
It propels me to ask God: What is the
best that I can do? And then do it.
In our baptism, we are invited to something
higher beyond our natural instincts. It embraces a whole new way of living that
radiates more charity than selfishness, more joy than bitterness, more peace
than factualism, and more willingness to sacrifice than the natural sway of our
emotions. I believe real change happens on the level of the gestures,
encouraging me to take risk in doing things differently than it has been done
before. God does not ask for me to be ready, only willing.
How do I
intentionally bless others?
Who are the
influencers in my life forming my image of God?
Tam Lontok
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