In the first reading for today’s Mass, God reminds us through the words of Moses that “the Lord set his heart on you and chose you.” We matter to God, just because of who we are. He has “set his heart” on me. He has chosen me. This is true. This has happened. All the symbols involved in the rite of baptism reverberate with this personal, wild love God has for each of us personally. As the priest sprinkles the baptismal water on the person being baptized, he pronounces the person’s name. He anoints the person on the forehead and the chest, blessing the person’s lips and ears. The person being baptized is given a new garment, a white garment. The person is given godparents and a candle lit from the Easter Candle. The whole ceremony rejoices in this person being welcomed and embraced into God’s own family, chosen to participate fully in the new life of Christ and even to share in Christ’s own mission. God didn’t have to do any of this. He didn’t have to create us. He didn’t have to redeem us. He doesn’t have to reach out to us, reveal himself to us, or walk with us. He chooses to. We matter to him. Going back to the words of Moses in today’s first reading, we need to courageously and humbly apply them to ourselves, to ask for the grace to see ourselves as God sees us: “You are a people sacred to the Lord, your God… the Lord set his heart on you and chose you…” (Deuteronomy 7:6) I believe, Lord—help my unbelief!