"You are my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."

Scripture: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22

The second week of Epiphany we return to the baptism of the Lord - Luke's account in Year C. Luke treats us to the marvelous picture of the dove descending, and those beautiful words "This is my son in whom I am well pleased." What is happening here? See "God Believes in You" by the Rev. Dr. Joanna Adams.

I especially liked the following story from the Fred Craddock Stories about the man who lived ashamed and ostracized because of the status of his paternity: "One day, before I could escape, I felt a hand on my shoulder.  It was the minister.  He looked closely at my face.  I knew that he too was trying to guess who my father was. 'Well, boy, you are a child of. . .' and then he paused.  When he spoke again he said, 'Boy, you are a child of God.  I see a striking resemblance.'  Then he swatted me on the bottom and said, 'Now, you go on and claim your inheritance.'  I left church that day a different person," the now elderly man said.  "In fact, that was the beginning of my life." "What's your name?"  Dr. Craddock asked.
He answered, "Ben Hooper.  My name is Ben Hooper."  Dr. Craddock said he vaguely recalled from when he was a kid, his father talking about how the people of Tennessee had twice elected a fellow who had been born out of wedlock as the governor of their state.  His name was Ben Hooper.

The Rev. Jane Bearden finds the answer to these questions in the baptism of Christ Who am I?  Am I really a vital part of family?  Do I have any gifts that are valuable?  Where do I belong?  Am I really deserving of love? See "The Baptism of Christ."

How many times have you told your children, grandchildren, or for that matter, all God's children, "You are a child of God, whom he loves, claims, and in whom he is well pleased?"