The baptism of the Lord gave true meaning to our own baptism.  It developed further the theology of baptism. In baptism a person becomes a child of God.  As stated before, baptism is not only a rite that takes place on day about 20 to 30 minutes.   Baptism is a way of life.  Baptism is in invitation for continuing conversion.   Baptism makes a child of God with the promise of eternal life if we go about doing good while in this world.   Baptism lays the groundwork of a life working toward eternity.  As children of God, the person is called to live in such a way day to day.  There are signs a person is living the baptism and thus living a child of God.  The first reading talks about being a witness to the Lord in a soft and gentle way, being a prophetic voice in the desert of the world.  In a kind and gentle way testify to the love of God, and thus prepare the way of the Lord. The first reading adds to give comfort to the people, so it implies the witness needs to be a comforting presence. A person that does not injure, does not hurt, but rather gives testimony and becomes a herald of glad tidings.  The first sign the baptism is to be a gentle witness. The second reading continues with another quality of a baptized, namely be eager to do good.  In the Letter of Titus, the baptized are reminded they live in a world of lawlessness but are called to make a difference by doing good.  A baptized person who is living as a true child of God is one who is decent, who was values, who has morals, and who cares about other people.   A baptized person becomes cleansed by doing good for others. Purification takes place in the service of others.  The second sign is doing good for others.  The second reading gives another sign of a child of God tied in with doing good for others, namely becoming generous and kind to others.  Generosity is a sign of preparing to become heirs in the hope of eternal life.   Generosity means letting go of material possessions, knowing by doing so the person acquires treasure in heaven.   Generosity means helping the neighbor with an abundance of resources.  Generosity means not being limited to the help offered to others but to give with open hands. Being a generous person means to prepare for life of eternal by helping the poor and disadvantaged, it is they who give the person the ticket to heaven.  The Gospel gives the third sign of a person who truly is living the baptism as a child of God, namely being led by the fire of the Holy Spirit.  The bath of rebirth by the Holy Spirt is baptism, which renews the person and sets the person on fire for the love of God and others.   There is much expectation for those who have received baptism.  It is hoped they are being led by the Holy Spirit.  It is hoped they are set on fire, their hearts burning with the love of the Holy Spirit and that love is shared with others.  As stated in one of the movements in the life of the church, “A sad Christian, is a sad excuse of a Christian.”  A person needs to be motivated, guided, and energized by the Holy Spirit that comes with baptism. Love needs to ever grow in the person if the Holy Spirit is really working throughout the life of the baptized.  It is true that not all who are baptized will be saved.  This is a declaration: not all will be saved.  Only those who lived as children of God, activating their baptism will be able to inherit the kingdom of God.  Some have their baptism brand new, not living it. It is time to start living the baptism with the stated qualities of a child of God, so at the end of life, the same words would be said a person who lived his or her baptism, “You are my beloved son [or daughter], with you I am well pleased” and thus merit to inherit eternal life.  Live baptism well while on earth to become an heir to eternal life.