The opening Collect (prayer) designated for this week is: Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove: Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

As I reflected on this prayer, three passages came to mind (Matthew 3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; and Luke 3:21-23). Each of these Gospels includes key details about Jesus’ baptism, and they all record the words spoken by God from heaven as Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him like a dove: "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

I then reflected on Ephesians 1:3-14, where Paul describes God’s redemptive work. There, we learn that out of His abundant love, God the Father chose and adopted us as His true children. Through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been redeemed and forgiven, and by giving us the Holy Spirit, He has marked us as His own. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “the Spirit is God’s guarantee that He has purchased us to be His own people.”

As we reflect on these biblical truths, let us pray for the strength to live as faithful children, holding on to such great promises. Like the Apostle Paul, I am convinced that God will answer that prayer because "nothing... absolutely nothing can stand between us and God’s love because of the way Jesus has embraced us.” (Romans 8:39, MSG)

The Lord’s peace be with you!

Joe