Dear Friends,
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news" (Mark 1:15). This is a stunning reminder of the meaning of ministry When the kingdom of God breaks into time, the possibility of people being restored to a right relationship with God opens up. Repentance is the act by which this restoration happens. In other words, Jesus was baptised not for himself, but for us.
In the waters of Baptism, God reaches out and tells us, "You are my child; I am your God,"
thus establishing a covenant of mutual loyalty and love. Like Jesus we are tempted, but with the temptation, God provides good news of a means of escape. Even if we sin, God provides the means of escape called repentance.
Saint Paul puts it this way: "No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13).
What is this "way out"? Martin Luther says that when depressions and temptations come, the best way to handle them is to say, "I am baptised." He urges us to tell the demonic forces that tempt us that we are sons and daughters of God through Baptism and therefore those forces have no control over us. In other words, the punishing waters of the flood (Genesis 6:5-7) are reversed in the merciful waters of Holy Baptism.
Canon Gary