Devotional for the Week

Holy Presence

Devotional for the week of November 17, 2024

In Jesus’ day the temple in Jerusalem loomed large, both as a central physical structure in the city and as a powerful symbol of God’s presence among the people. It was a major part of Jewish religious life of the time, and the location where it stood remains important for many people today. The disciples would certainly have found it unsettling to listen to Jesus forecast the temple’s destruction. Would it really fall? How could such an important place ever be lost?

We often look to buildings, institutions, and societal structures for stability. But even our surest foundations can fail, and often do. Jesus reminds us that though stability comes and goes, we are not alone amid the changes. When the world comes apart at the seams, when we don’t know what will happen next, God accompanies us through it all. Though wars continue, though death is near, Jesus responds, “Do not be alarmed.” We are not alone! Through all the endings and beginnings of our shared human life, God goes with us.

When God gathers us around the font for baptism, we are reminded of how Divine Presence has been with people throughout the ages. The words often shared as water is poured into the font recall scenes from the great flood, the deliverance of the Israelites at the Red Sea, and John baptizing Jesus. God has shown up, again and again! These promises of God’s presence are still for us, every day that we live.

Whenever we find ourselves interacting with water, we have the chance to be reminded that God has claimed us as beloved, and still carries us through life’s hard moments. How might you remember your baptism today? Where is God’s presence most important for you?