As our Christmas season ends, we fast-forward about 30 years and turn our attention to the start of Jesus' public ministry. In today’s Gospel, it’s one of the few times when the Trinity of God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit appear together in one story with the Baptism of Jesus. As a young mom, I had my own 3 children baptised as babies. I made a promise that I would raise them as followers of Christ. In baptism, I too was plunged into water...into Christ’s life…immersed in His way of living and loving. My Christian mission takes on a different aura then yours. But, Christ dwells in the midst of all of us in His nearness as He walks with us in our daily existence and struggles.

My 3 grown children are around Jesus’ age while He was in His public ministry. As a mom, I had a really strong hold on their faith life while they were growing up… lots of talk of God’s goodness, prayers for the less fortunate, religious education, receiving sacraments, involvement with the Youth Group, being Peer Ministers, doing lots of community service. Then they became adults and the way that they chose to represent Christ took on a new form in how they live their lives beyond church… beyond pleasing Mom. My daughter, Jamie, teaches at Lakeland Regional High School in a multiple disabled class. She is an angel on earth, blessed with the gift of patience, creativity, passionate, a heart of gold and a ton of compassion in the way that she makes each teen feel like a special child of God. My son, Willy, is a firefighter and EMT in Philadelphia. He’s courageous and protective; he’s caring and willing to do anything to help others. My baby, Nicky… well, he’s the hardest to describe because his new career isn’t one that promotes Christianity. Nick has always been the “go-to-guy” when someone needs a helping hand. Yet, he works for the Department of Public Works for a local municipality known for bureaucratic leadership. Still every day, Nick puts on Christ by not feeding into the rumour mill, being kind to the diverse bunch of guys he works with, not lowering the bar and becoming an angry employee, always being respectful and working hard, even when no one is looking, to help co-workers, supervisors and residents.

I’m blessed with a beautiful ministry to help our youth become aware of ways that they can use their gifts to bring Christ glory each day. What better time than now to take the “Polar Plunge” into bringing faith alive through Christianity in action?