by Pam Tinsley

Since Trinity Sunday, I’ve been reflecting on a simple but powerful idea: For followers of Jesus, baptism is our superpower. In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus gives the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.” (Mt. 28:16–20)

The Great Commission ties us directly to the Trinity, one God in three persons, bound together in perfect communion, mutuality, and love. The mystery of the Trinity reveals a God whose very nature is relationship — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit living in perfect communion and self-giving love.

And, created in God’s image, we’re meant to let the loving dance of the Trinity shape how we live in relationship with God and with one another.

At baptism, then, we are given a superpower. We’re claimed by God and incorporated into the Body of Christ. And the Trinity is the power bank for our superpower, because we’re united with the Creator, redeemed through Christ, and filled with the Holy Spirit. Baptism gives us a new identity and a new purpose. Baptism also affirms that we belong to God and to one another, bound inextricably together in a community shaped by grace, love, and mutual responsibility.

To live our baptism, then, is to fully engage our superpower and live as Jesus’ disciples. It’s to embody the values Jesus taught and modeled: mercy, forgiveness, compassion, peace, and self-giving love. We’re to recognize Christ in our neighbors; honor the dignity of every person; and work to break down barriers that divide God’s beloved people. And baptism calls us away from the sidelines and into active participation in God’s mission of reconciliation.

As we now enter the long season after Pentecost, we’re invited to let the interlacing life of the Trinity continue to shape how we live our daily lives, pray, and serve God. We’re encouraged to renew our commitment to the promises of our baptism: to follow Jesus faithfully, to serve others generously, and to bear witness to God’s love in the world. In doing so, we continue Jesus’ mission with confidence, trusting in his promise to be with us always.