Immersed

This week’s Gospel reading is John 1:29-34.  In the reading, John the Baptist explains that Jesus is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

I looked up the word “baptize”, and the origin is from the Greek word for “immerse”.  That makes sense.  Some denominations of Christianity still baptize with a complete immersion in water. 

I think that’s an important idea, that we be immersed in the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes people who want to learn a new language go to live in a country that speaks with that language to be “immersed” in the language.  There is no better way to learn that language.  I think it’s the same thing with the Holy Spirit; it helps to be immersed. 

So how do we do that?  How do we get immersed?  I only have suggestions, no real answers.  I would suggest the following. 

Read the word. 

Spend as much time as possible with our friends or loved ones, regardless of what we are doing with them.  “Wherever two or more are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.”  Going to pick up milk? Bring the kids.  Going to the DMV?  Ask your wife to go with you.  Going to a business meeting out of town?  Ask a friend if they want to take a road trip.  Much of life is errands and everyday stuff.  Be immersed in friends and love ones when you can.  The Holy Spirit loves a couple or a crowd.

Meditate on God when you’re falling asleep.  It’s better than counting sheep.

The particulars of what you do probably doesn’t matter as much as approaching life with a conscious effort to be immersed the active part of God, the Holy Spirit.  What does that mean to you?

- - The Older Brother