Before and for ever after
Enduring presence is
Love’s gift to each of us
Offering assurance and dignity
Vast in generosity
Ensuring that each of us are
Declared as “Beloved Child of God”
At the baptism of Jesus, the
voice of God states, “You are my Son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1.
11). This affirmation by God of Jesus is
an affirmation that we in turn all receive for Jesus as “God with us” embodies our
life. Our story is part of his story and his story is part of our story. Being
declared beloved is a bold statement. It looks beyond our pettiness and
struggles, it looks beyond our sinfulness and selfishness, it looks beyond our
failings and shortcomings; looking directly at our inherent goodness. The
goodness that we are created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1.27) is
a gift for each of us. This gift declares we are imitators of God (Ephesians
5.1) through the actions of loving one another as Christ has loved us (John
13.34) and in being a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6.19). Here we
find ourselves at the centre of the lavish love of the Trinity. Yes, beloved
indeed! Each one of us, not just Jesus but because of Jesus.
As Christmas fades to a
memory and the New Year musters up speed and courage, we carry forth this gift
of being beloved children of God. Christmas awakens us to the promise of God
dwelling with us. This dwelling among us is not just for a day or a season but
in the living out of our baptismal promises and life. We are the followers of
the One born among us, born for us, living in the new kingdom where the cross
and resurrection awaken us to the belovedness of each person. We are the
followers of the One who loved, welcomed and healed and continues this today
through us. We are the followers of the One who trusted, who bolded declared
mercy and who we are sealed with in baptism. This can’t just be for a day or a
season or in the best intentions as year begins but in the everyday and ordinary.
New Year resolutions come and
go, well thought out plans seem to gather dust and our attempts to rise above
the mundane seem to stumble. Regardless of all of this still our God remains
with us and simply says,
“Come and follow me, my beloved child.” As we lean
into our belovedness and experience the generosity of our God, we in turn share
this generosity – declaring how others too are beloved and valued. It does not matter
where we come from, how big or little the bank accounts are, what the color of our
skin is, the thrill or disappoint of leadership and governments or the skills
and talents we have: beloved is beloved. In being beloved we too help others
declare they are beloved. We must look at each other with the eyes of God, the
heart of Christ and the openness of the Holy Spirit.
This is the treasure (and
dare I say responsibility)
we carry, ponder and live because of our baptism.
Photo credits:
MRJN Photography
Rocco Ronneburg
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