A READING FROM LUKE
21 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22 and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”
MESSAGE IN A PARAGRAPH OR TWO
We are baptized into Christ. So, our baptism is different from that of Jesus. However, just as Jesus full identity was given to him at baptism, the same is true for is. At the end of our baptism, the pastor says: your name, “child of God, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” We already have our earthly last name. At baptism we receive our eternal last name, Christian. The God of unconditional love is our heavenly parent.