You are my beloved child
The Baptism of Christ
Epiphany is the season of light bulb moments, pennies dropping, scales falling from eyes. Suddenly people understand just who Jesus is.
For the people by the river Jordan that day, according to Luke, that epiphany came with the help of a voice from heaven and the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus in bodily form like a dove. And the voice said, "You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." What an affirmation!
When we are baptized, we are following in Jesus' footsteps. And through him, we too are God's beloved children. We may be quite used to thinking of God as our Father or Mother, but not necessarily logically follow it through - if God is your parent, you are God's child. For some that will be a light bulb moment, a penny will drop, and suddenly you understand something new about who Jesus really is, and who you are.
And so I often use this passage at baptisms, and claim these words from heaven for every person I baptize: "You are my child, the beloved, with you I am well pleased"
If you are baptized, there's a strong chance you were too young to remember. But you may like to imagine the voice of God saying these words to you today. An affirmation that you are God's child that you are loved, that God is pleased with you. If you are not baptized, perhaps now is the time to listen to the voice of God and see if God is calling you to take that step of faith.
