“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” — Mt 3:16 NIV

As I write this, the whole world wonders if another calendar year will be consumed by pandemic-induced problems. What many of us are feeling now is something beyond fatigue. It’s a sort of numbness that borders the realm of despair. When can we finally rest easy? It’s not unlike wandering through the wilderness. Or worse, floating around on Noah’s ark waiting for dry land to appear. If you recall, the anxiety of that epic boat ride was alleviated when Noah sent a dove out to survey the situation. The first time, it returned empty handed. The second time, it brought back a bit of hope in the form of a fig leaf. Finally, Noah sent out the dove a third time and, having discovered solid ground, it never returned.

Ultimately, our hope rests not on circumstances, but on a person, Jesus Christ. When the Holy Spirit descended upon him as a dove, it was a sign to all creatures in heaven and on earth that a new world was emerging. A world that revolves around the Son of the Most High God. It is no coincidence that Jesus is also known as Lord of the Sabbath, for all who search desperately for peace are invited to rest in him.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your Son, who became one of us so that we might have peace with you. Help us to trust you as we traverse the unknown waters of the coming year. Amen.