This week is focused on the baptism of Jesus. Since John the Baptizer provided a baptism of repentance of sins, on first glance, it is unusual to consider that Jesus would want to be baptized since He is sinless. However, as the anointing by the Spirit was upon Jesus as He came out of the waters, His baptism had a greater significance for Him. The word "baptism" literally means immersion. So Jesus's baptism is symbolic of the complete immersion of God into the human experience. Likewise, our baptisms are a complete immersion into the Jesus experience.

At first, John resists the desire of Jesus to be baptized by him. Yet, later he consents. When the Kingdom of Heaven comes to us, do we say "yes" or do we resist? And when we do consent to the ways of God, each step at a time leads to a lifetime of faith. It is not sudden, but an eventual arrival of deep trust.