By Amanda Hines
This time of year is marked by New Year’s resolutions that vary from things like living more healthy lifestyles through exercise and nutrition to reading more books and spending less time on screens or traveling more to experience new places. The sentiments around these types of activities and habits are not bad by any means, and yet, so many of them barely make it to the next month as life picks back up. I’ve even learned that the second Friday of January is unofficially referred to as “Quitter’s Day,” when many resolutions for the new year are abandoned as motivation dips.
A resolution simply means a firm decision to do or not to do something. Beyond creating and building new habits, the tone of resolution carries more weight to it than what we might first consider. A complex problem or issue is finally resolved; a long-standing dispute finally comes to a mutual understanding. This perspective of resolution leads me to wonder how God’s resolution for a weary world was the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ. And on this day, called Baptism of the Lord Sunday, we are reminded that Jesus’ act of baptism served as his resolution to accept and begin his ministry and mission.
I invite you this morning to remember your own baptism or reflect on the baptism of another person you have witnessed. Baptism is a proclamation and promise that God loves you and created you uniquely. Through baptism you are welcomed into the big, beautiful, diverse family of God. Baptism symbolizes how we are joined together in Christ’s life, death and resurrection. In baptism we are anointed with the Holy Spirit, who strengthens and comforts us. And baptism reminds us we are connected to each other and our journeys are never walked alone. I love how when Wilshire does a baptism we are all invited to stand together in commitment to pray, support and walk alongside the person being baptized. What a beautiful communal resolution!
As you prepare yourself for worship, may you rest in the resolution that you are invited to participate in God’s ongoing work in the world. May today’s music, prayer, Scripture and message be reminders that you are loved deeply, and you are never alone.