As a young baby was being baptized, a butterfly began to flutter around the baptismal font. Wide-eyed, the infant’s older brother asked loudly, “What’s that butterfly doing here?”
The quick-thinking pastor saw a teaching moment. “You’ve heard haven’t you that butterflies come forth from caterpillars?” The inquisitive boy nodded that yes, he knew that.
“Well, you see,” said the pastor, “In the same way that a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly, so in baptism we are transformed into a new life in Jesus. Our butterfly friend is here to remind us of that.”
Today, we celebrate the baptism of Jesus, a transforming event in the life of our Lord. A dove coming from above and a voice from heaven tell all who gathered by the waters of the Jordan River that Jesus is the beloved Son of God.
Luther teaches us in the Small Catechism that baptism works for the forgiveness of sins, rescuing us from death and the devil, and giving us eternal salvation. Now that’s a transformation to celebrate!
Dear God, thank you for the transforming gift of Baptism through Jesus your Son. Amen. —