Sermon on Matthew 3:13-17

Pastor Jennifer Garcia

2026 has barely started, and already I feel overwhelmed.

Society expects us to get our lives together in January. New Year, New You! We’ve got to optimize every minute, make resolutions and SMART goals and figure out the perfect systems and schedules with the best$200 planner and become the healthiest we’ve ever been and cook nutritionally balanced meals from scratch every night in our impeccably organized and spotless kitchens.

There’s immense pressure to completely change one’s life the minute the clock strikes midnight on New Year's.

But it’s 11 days into 2026, and I’m still me—flawed and anxious and tired.

How can I possibly live up to society’s expectations?

And then, when I try to distract myself from my disappointment that I’m not suddenly perfect, I check the news, which is definitely a good idea when I’m feeling disappointed and anxious.

I see updates about what’s going on in Venezuela—which makes me confused about what happened, fearful of more violence, conflicted about the US’s historical involvement in regime changes in South America,and so I pray for peace and flourishing for the people of Venezuela in this new chapter.

I expected that Venezuela would be the biggest news story this week, and then, there was thefatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis in a conflict with ICE, and I’m devastated by the fear and grief our immigrant neighbors and so many others are experiencing.

And of course, there’s still ongoing turmoil in Ukraine and in Israel and Gaza.

Our trans siblings are being targeted by legislation in various states.

AI technology progresses, and thesci-fi fan part of me is both intrigued and concerned.

Our guests at Caring Hands continue to increase in number, showing the need in our own community.

The world feels overwhelming right now. It’s nothing new, and still, I never want to become numb to the world’s pain.

But it’s easy to start asking, “How can I possibly make a difference? I’m just one person. The world’s problems are too big. I’m too small and broken. What can I do? I can’t even get my own life together, let alone fix any of this.”

I’m torn between trying to hustle harder to make a difference in a flurry of perfectionism and wanting to hide under the covers and give up. Neither will end well.

And this doesn’t even touch other circumstances you might be dealing with: illness, caregiving, financial concerns, family drama, death and loss.

In whatever circumstances we’re facing, sometimes it feels like we’re not up the task.

John the Baptist didn’t think he was up to the task either.

When Jesus came to him to be baptized, he said, “Wait, wait, wait—you should be baptizing me, not the other way around!”

You can almost hear the voice of imposter syndrome in his head, saying, “You can’t do this. You’re just here to prepare the way. You’ve only been shouting at religious leaders and telling people to repent. But now he’s here! He’s supposed to take over—your job is irrelevant now. You can’t possibly expect to baptize him too!”

And yet, that was exactly what Jesus was asking him—exactly what God was calling him to.

Jesus’ ministry—his very existence as a human being—was self-emptying. The Incarnation—God becoming human—was to bring what is lofty and powerful (God) to meet us (stumbling, violent, self-interested human beings) where we are.

Jesus was asking John to do exactly what God had called him to do—baptize people and invite them to join in the Beloved Community.

Jesus joined in too.

And the heavens ripped apart, and God’s Spirit came down, and God’s voice announced, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

God was well-pleased with Jesus, who hadn’t yet healed anyone or preached anything or performed any miracles or fed any crowds.

God was well-pleased with Jesus simply for being who he was.

And God was well-pleased with John simply for being who he was.

And God is well-pleased with you simply for being who you are.

You are enough, because God created you and loves you.

You are enough without overhauling your life, fulfilling all your New Year’s resolutions, buying that planner, or fixing the world’s problems.

God welcomes us into God’s family in baptism, and we baptize people of all ages, including infants, because it’s about God’s work, not ours. God loves us before we’ve done anything. God is well-pleased with us when our only accomplishments are eating, sleeping, and pooping.

Maybe you were baptized as an infant. Maybe when you were older. Maybe you haven’t been baptized, and that’s okay. It’s never too early or too late. You are part of God’s family, and God rejoices when we mark that truth with water. And God is already well-pleased with you, whether you feel it or not.

And just like John had a calling, we each have a calling from God. It could be related to our careers, and it could also be about loving your family well, about serving your community in big and small ways, about using your God-given creativity to make beautiful things, or about using your voice to advocate for vulnerable people.

And like John, maybe you feel unworthy to live out what God is asking of you.

But you are already enough in God’s eyes, and God believes in you and will accompany you through everything.

I was reminded this week between reviewing to-do lists and doom-scrolling the news that sometimes our callings aren’t as recognizable as we might wish.

Kate Bowler sent out an email this week talking about the development of the assembly line and the value of increased productivity that has deeply influenced our country over the decades.

Then, she talked about teaching that history to seminary students. She notes that the work they’re preparing for is “slow and inefficient.” Ministry—for all of us, not just pastors and deacons—is slow and inefficient. It can be made up of boring meetings, picking up trash, giving a water bottle to someone who won’t say thank you and will leave the bottle on the ground for someone else to pick up.

But it still matters. Every small act of kindness and love and dedication to God’s calling matters even though we don’t always see the positive effects. They all matter, because God changes the world through slow, seemingly inefficient acts of love.

“If you want progress,” says Kate Bowler,“take up running. If you want meaning, run a church.” And I would amend that to “if you want meaning, do whatever it is God is asking of you, no matter how seemingly small or insignificant.” It’s not insignificant, because you’re not insignificant in God’s eyes.

So, do whatever you can, no matter how small or whether or not you feel worthy.

You are God’s beloved child, and God is well-pleased with you just as you are, yesterday, today, and always.