Background Notes

Besides new hope and new life symbolized by water, Christ’s own baptism story reflects Jesus’ solidarity and God’s holy commitment to be with us: God is immersed fully with us in the waters of baptism. Moreover, Jesus’ solidarity reflects God’s desire to be with us in all types of waters – calm pools, muddy streams, vast seas, violent whirlpools – even if these waters signal a much greater problem, such as the human-caused climate crisis. Some of us can, for the moment, choose to stay safely on dry shore. Alternatively and consistent with our baptismal call, we can instead opt to wade into the water where the promise of the Gospel assures us that God is already present.