You Are My Beloved Son

We are here: the final day of the nearly month-long celebration of the Coming of our God into our world as one of us. The glorious moment in the ministry of Jesus, his Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist, reveals to the world for the first time, the Trinity. Jesus in the flesh, the Father in the booming voice from heaven, and the Spirit in the form of a dove above the head of Jesus. This defining moment confirms in our eyes as well as in the heart of Jesus, that He IS the Son of God. He humbles himself to this baptism, despite John's declaration that "he is not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals" (Lk 3: 16) in order for us to see, as John did, our own littleness. This "littleness" is no reason to back away from Jesus, but rather a reason for us to experience and embrace God's love to an even greater degree, for our own baptism lifts us from our "nothingness" and makes us a child of God. He can see his image and likeness in us, and we can now be included in his proclamation: "You are my beloved son (or daughter); with you I am well pleased." (Lk 3: 22). In this light, today's feast is also a celebration of our own baptism, our own kinship with God, and a reminder that we share not only the life of God within us, but also the mission of one who is a child of God. Let us simply give thanks for this great gift and privilege, renew our baptismal promises, and pledge to live them under the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit.
Bro. Rene