Jesus, Beloved

Scripture         Read Mark 1:9-13
Focus Verse    Matthew 17:5
While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”

Commentary:  The root of the word “beloved” in this passage comes from the Greek word agape, which is love in its highest form, the love God has for human beings.  

In the longer passage, we see that all three Persons of the Holy Trinity are present in this beautiful baptismal image: the Father is speaking, the Son is in the waters, and the Spirit is descending like a dove. The divine fellowship of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is one in which each is eternally lovingly delighting in each other. Don’t we all want to feel completely loved and delighted in by God, as Jesus was in our baptismal image?  

It may be instructive for the understanding of our faith that Spirit immediately leads Jesus into the desert for his 40 day wilderness journey after his baptism. Whether we believe that God is testing us or that life has simply thrown us a curve ball, our faith is constantly stretched by our circumstances. In difficult times it may be hard to remember that we are the beloved of God but ... John 3:16.

Reflection: How do you experience yourself as God’s beloved?
    
Prayer Breathing in … Beloved One of God
Prayer Breathing out … Help me feel beloved

If music is a spiritual pathway for you, I invite you to pour yourself a cup of tea (or coffee) and listen to Corrinne May sing (my very favorite advent song) "In the Bleak Midwinter" via YouTube video live at Peets Coffee & Tea.  This song brings such a sweet image of Mary worshiping "the Beloved with a kiss."  And yet, it is the question "yet what can I give him: give him my heart" that touches me so profoundly, every year.  May, a Singaporean singer, hasn't recorded this song so I've been listening to the YouTube video for years, having never found a recorded performance that I like better than this young woman sitting at a piano, pouring her voice out for a small intimate audience sipping coffee and tea.