My Son the beloved

Readings for Sunday January 8, 2012...The Sunday after Epiphany include Genesis 1:1-5; Psalm 29; Acts 19:1-7; Mark 1:4-11- often called the Baptism of Jesus

In these weeks after the feast of the Epiphany (January 6th...or Twelfth Night) 
we focus on how Christ is made known 
beyond the bounds of the inner circle of God's revelation.
It begins on January 6th 
when the Christmas story is expanded 
by the arrival of the Wise Men
this is to show us 
('epiphany' means to manifest or to show forth)
that this Christ, 
is not just for the narrow concerns 
of a little group of people
in a strip of Mediterranean Land 
--which has been and is presently much-troubled--
but for the whole world.
The Wise Men are presented in Matthew 
as the fulfillment of prophecy
that shows God will be made known 
through this Messiah
to all peoples 
As the story moves 
on we see one of the incidents 
in which the identity of Jesus is declared
...the event is his baptism by John, 
which Mark offers as the beginning of the Good News..
What is interesting to us 
is what this baptism confers
It is an understanding that 
as God speaks into the situation
this is what he says
"You are my son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased"
These words will be spoken again 
at the Transfiguration
when the disciples recognise Jesus
for who he really is.
And because the climax of Mark's Gospel 
is the Crucifixion
we are invited to see
that these are words that are spoken at that time, 
this time by the centurion who says for all to hear
"Truly this man was God's Son"
are indeed insightful and true

Because in Mark's Gospel we are being invited to share
in this journey
These are words that we might see
are being spoken to us
"This is my Son, the Beloved"
"You are my daughter, and I love you"
I find these words deeply assuring
and perhaps we need to hear God 
saying this to you and me 
often and deeply 
during this Epiphany season.
--You are my son, and you are my daughter--
and I love you!
This is not the message of idle comfort,
rather it will lead us, like Jesus,
to the Cross.
Our faith tells us
that the Cross, 
though it looks like death,
is the way to fullness of life.
THIS WEEK

• Allow God to assure you of his love for you, and to confute everything that says anything less than ...I love you, and I am well pleased
• Pray for Grace to respond to that love, and to open yourself to the power fo the Holy Spirit
• Pray for Courage to embrace the Cross