Our mission begins at Baptism.

Baptism, in the days of John the Baptist, was a cleansing ceremony. When people repented of their sins, they received God’s mercy and were washed clean by the waters of baptism. So why did Jesus need to be baptized? He had no sins to repent, nothing on His soul that needed cleansing.

The baptism of Jesus was a powerful, twofold message. First, to most people present that day, Jesus was just another guy. Then at His baptism, God the Father and God the Holy Spirit revealed to the world that Jesus was God the Son, the long awaited Messiah. Second, this revelation was made while Jesus was standing amongst professed sinners. This was a sign that in His humanity, Jesus understood their struggles and still chose to walk beside them. Jesus offered hope while teaching the way to everlasting life.

At Jesus’ baptism, the waters were sanctified by His immersion. He gave a new meaning to the ritual. Now at baptism, we are infused with the Holy Spirit. We are taken as sons and daughters of God and become part of His mission: the salvation of humankind.