By Sr. Doreen, SSJD.
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth to Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1: 9-11)
One of the celebrations of January that I particularly found myself pondering as important living in the midst of our broken and troubled world was the Baptism of Jesus. I thought how Baptism, the outward and visible sign of that inward and spiritual grace is of a blessing and belonging into new life. It is a sign of a new life and a new creation offered in blessing. It is a sacrament of the original goodness of creation and of ourselves, of the delight and pleasure that God takes in us and all of creation, and the call to take that blessing and that goodness and that delight and share it with others. This comment sounds very counter-cultural, and yet it is perhaps one of the most important truths about us and our world that we must not lose hold of.
To hear the words “this is my beloved child in whom I take delight” is what we all need to hear and to believe, more than anything else. We need daily within our families and within our communities and within our relationships to do these things and to say these things that help us and those around us believe that life is good, that our lives are good, that we are good, and that we, with God, can look on ourselves and each other with great pleasure and delight.
In the Hymn Book of the Anglican Church called “Sing a New Creation” #24 written by Daniel Charles Damion there is much to ponder:
“I have called you by your name, you are mine; I have gifted you and ask you now to shine,
I will not abandon you; all my promises are true. You are gifted, called and chosen; you are mine.
I will help you learn my name as you go; Read it written in my people, help them grow.
Pour the water in my name, speak the word your soul can claim, offer Jesus’ body, given long ago.
I know you will need my touch as you go; Feel it pulsing in creation’s ebb and flow.
Like the woman reaching out, choosing faith in spite of doubt, hold the hem of Jesus’ robe, then let it go.
I have given you a name, it is mine; I have given you my Spirit as a sign.
With my wonder in your soul, make my wounded children whole; go and tell my precious people they are mine.”
The hymn is a summing up of so much that scripture reminds us of ourselves and our God – that unconditional, tenacious love. It is that gift that tells us (in the Message translation in the annunciation story in Luke) “that we are beautiful with God’s beauty, beautiful inside and out and God is with us.” I am also reminded over and over again of the words in Isaiah 43 … do not be afraid, for I love you and I have called you by name, you are mine … you are precious to me, you are honoured, and I love you.
On this day, the baptism of Jesus and at any baptism or renewal of baptismal promises, I am so reminded also of similar words in bible, telling us who we are and who we belong to, from the Song of Songs … “my Beloved is mine and I am his”. It is a deeply moving understanding that this love is also an acceptance of ourselves and of God’s love, a love for who we are and who we can be moving forward. For those of us in our community that have made life vows, these words are inscribed on the inside of the ring given to us at our Life Profession.
Indeed, to hear the words “this is my beloved child in whom I take delight” in the midst of life today, broken, wounded, violent, damaged, divisive, these are some descriptions we could give to the current global situation – to stand fully immersed in the condition of being human – we all need affirmation. We need to know that we are good, and precious, loved and honoured. We need to know that God takes great delight in us and believes in us and has great plans for us. This is God’s gift, a joy and a challenge: to take the goodness and the blessing and the delight in the midst of the reality of our human condition, and to share it with others.
In her book “Boundless Compassion” Joyce Rupp quotes Archbishop Desmond Tutu:
“We are fundamentally good. When you come to think of it, that’s who we are at our core … What difference does goodness make? Goodness changes everything … Goodness changes how we see the world, the way we see others, and most importantly, the way we see ourselves. The way we see ourselves matters. It affects how we treat people. It affects the quality of life for each and all of us. What is the quality of life on our planet? It is nothing more than the sum total of our daily interactions. Each kindness enhances the quality of life. Each cruelty diminishes it.”
An ending prayer from a service of baptism, one that I think, friends, we can use at any time:
May the Holy Spirit always guide you and light your path in life. May the Lord’s blessings be poured upon you as the waters of baptism are poured over your soul. May you always walk with Jesus and keep him close to your heart. As you are sealed with the Holy Spirit, may you be God’s instrument in this world.
