Baptism of The Lord

“This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”

Whenever I celebrate a baptism, I say to the congregation, ‘this  - without the audio and visuals - is what is happening to your child; your daughter or son.”

This is what God said to each of us at our own baptism. 

As we move forward  through our journey to eternity, it is up to us to behave in ways that are pleasing to God. When we fail, we can apologise – perhaps go to confession – and, picking ourselves up, learn from our mistakes to become  more Christlike, more compassionate and forgiving of the weaknesses of others.

The behaviour of Jesus that we read about in the Gospels is, for me, the horizon to which I keep travelling. As with any horizon, we never reach it, but we can and do make progress on becoming the best version of ourselves.

I know and accept the fact that  my life has an expiry date. I try to live it to the full before that date and become the best version of myself while still in space-time.

When baptised, Jesus, probably aged 30, did not know what life experiences he would encounter. However, I suspect he was determined to do God’s will – no matter how it would impact on his life.

I have no idea what this new year of 2026 will offer me, but I live in hope because I sense that Jesus is with me through-out each day and night.

As they used to say, “no man is a hero to his valet” So I know that I am no hero in the eyes of Jesus; but neither were his apostles, yet he stayed with them.  So, I am confident he will stay with me through this new year and on until my life-on-earth’s expiry date.