Baptismal Belovedness Part 3

 

We have been to the wilderness, waded in the Jordon with Mark and Luke so far this week to hear of Jesus’ baptism.  Today, we lean in and listen to Matthew who expands on the narrative of this sacred ritual.  From Matthew 3

 

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him.  John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”  But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

 

I love how Matthew has John the Baptizer protest that the roles need to be reversed.  There are many moments in our lives that we can feel in over our heads or like an imposture.  We can feel like everyone else got the manual for life and apparently, we were absent that day from school (darn chicken pox!!).  In a culture that thrives on comparison and competition and who can post the best photo/video to social media to increase likes and followers, it feels like we are skimming the surface of life in many ways. 

 

Today, I invite you to take a coffee cup or glass or Tupperware container ~ anything where there is an outside and inside.  Think about the names/roles/ways you are perceived and received by the world.  If I had a sharpie, I could write on the outside of my mug words like, “Husband”, “Father”, “Pastor”, “Writer”, “Jogger”, “Amateur Photographer”, “Wannabe Poet”, etc.  But what to write on the inside?  This is where it goes a bit more personal, even uncomfortable.  Because I might write words like, “Addicted to work”, “Sometimes I feel like God’s employee not God’s beloved”, “Thirsty for joy”, “Longing for peace”, “Hungry for hope”, and “Praying for God’s love to turn the world right side up.”  We all live on the inside edge of life, with one foot facing outward to others and one foot firmly on an internal world we are not sure we can share with others.  Today, hold your one wild and precious life.  Or better yet, go to the water, to be buoyed by your first, middle, and last name, “Beloved” which is how God sees you and hold you every day.  Amen.