It was a warm August morning when my wife gave birth to our first-born.

It was emotional, unforgettable, and life-changing. And I remember the feeling as we left the hospital and made our way to the car with that tiny little boy snuggled into his car seat. And as I buckled him in for the first time I recall thinking that Beaumont hospital had made a huge mistake: they had absolutely no business entrusting the life of this sweet innocent babe to me. Who was I to know what to do – if not just that night, but for the rest of his life?

I’m sure I’m not alone in experiencing feelings of inadequacy as a new parent. In fact, I’m sure I’m not alone in experiencing the myriad of thoughts of troubled self-esteem that characterize the human condition.

In Sunday’s gospel we hear of Jesus going to the River Jordan and requesting baptism from John. We read that this great saint’s first reaction is to want to prevent this pinnacle act, ‘I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’

In other words, if it were up to John, he would not have baptized Jesus.

And we can’t help but ponder how our own self-esteem issues can, and do, interfere with God’s greater plans. What we may think of as simple self-deprecation or the avoidance of high-mindedness, can turn into something much more harmful.

How do our own fears, insecurities, and limited self-esteem prevent us from living into God’s plans for our lives? What fears do we camouflage by being overly humble? How might God be calling us to rightfully stake our claim - owning up to our place and responsibilities in life?

Reading

The Lean Startup – Eric Ries

Beyond the Possible – Williams/Mirikitan
The Bible - NRSV