March 1, 2023 at 4:22 p.m.
The beloved of God
The beloved of God
It is also good to reflect on where we start the journey. Jan Richardson, a writer and ordained United Methodist minister, has a moving prayer/poem entitled, “Beloved is Where We Begin.” She says of this Lenten journey, “Do not leave without hearing who you are: Beloved.” We have heard Jesus referred to as beloved twice in our new liturgical year: at his baptism and now this Sunday. The journey begins with relationship — the profound relationship of Father and Son, a relationship that welcomes us as well. We walk this path as God’s beloved daughters and sons!
We have been blessed by all those who have walked this journey before us. The First Reading from the Book of Genesis highlights the call of Abram and Sarai. They are invited to journey with God to an unknown place. They are asked to trust in a God that they are just getting to know. Abram and Sarai will sojourn “by stages” (Gen 12:9) facing many dangers and hardships and enjoying many blessings before they reach their destination and make a covenant with God that endures until this day. Relationship with God and their community led them on and gave them strength to continue.
This call from God is an intensely spiritual moment for Abram, Sarai and their descendants. Jesus too is experiencing an intensely spiritual moment in the Gospel. Jesus has journeyed to the mountain with his inner circle of the apostles. In the verses before this story, Jesus has just foretold his death and resurrection. Now, he has gone away to pray. Perhaps he wants to give encouragement to the disciples. Perhaps in his own humanity, Jesus needs reassurance about his mission. Jesus enters into this moment of deep encounter with his Father. He is also being encouraged by the presence of two giants of the First Testament — Moses and Elijah. Their journeys were fraught with difficulties — suffering from the ridicule of their own people and from being in danger for their lives.
Jesus has a moment of respite. Here he is totally embraced in the Father’s love, enveloped in the Cloud of the Presence. Now he is dazzling and robed in glory, and he again hears the voice of his Father: “This is my Son, my Chosen, my beloved, listen to him.” Jesus is reassured in his mission and in the love of the Father.
Jesus’ reassurance is not shared by the terrified disciples! Awakened from their sleep, they too had been overcome by the cloud, the vision of Moses and Elijah and the dazzling light surrounding Jesus. It will take them time and reflection to calmly savor the meaning of this encounter!
Like the disciples, Jesus invites us to journey with him up the mountain. He invites us to be drawn into the splendor and the challenge of following him. He invites us to experience the presence of the living God and to hear our name being called — “Beloved.” We too are the beloved of God!
During this blessed Lenten season can we take time to slow down and to experience Jesus’ life giving presence in a deeper way, to be drawn into the “cloud” of Jesus’ love? Can we pause and “listen” to God’s Beloved One in our daily prayer? It takes time and reflection for us to allow the awesome reality of being “beloved of God” to soak into our hearts. Viscerally knowing this love flows into our daily lives as we come “down the mountain.” It shows itself in acts of compassion for family, colleagues, dear neighbors, and those we struggle to love. It shows itself in care for creation. It shows itself as we journey along the path of our lives that are filled with beauty and challenge!
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