On Baptism

To the Sources:

From Matthew 3:13-17 (Year A: Baptism of the Lord)

Let it be is the title of a Beatles song. ‘There will be an answer’ came into the lyrics. But, sometimes there is no answer. It makes no sense. Like the extremes of cruelty and human suffering allowed by an all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God. Some walk away and say ‘this makes no sense, therefore it cannot be true and I refuse to believe’. Others say ‘this makes no sense, but it must be true in some way I cannot understand fully and I trust: therefore I believe’. Still others don’t think about it at all.

Whatever we think we can chose to respond to what makes no sense by acts of compassion. This too is a form of faith. As John wrestled by the river Jordan with Jesus and his demand which made no sense to John then, he was wrestling with himself. And trust won. Trust is the beginning of our baptismal journey as someone holds us in their arms and pours cold water over our heads.