Thursday, January 10, 2013

Thursday, January 10, 2013


Today’s text

Luke 3:21-22

Now it happened that when all the people had been baptized and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical form, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son; the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

Reflection

A picture is awakened in my mind. Jesus prays quietly by himself. He emerges from the water and settles into a place where he can hear his thoughts and listen for the Voice we all want and need to hear.

Some say it is our deepest voice, the voice of our true self or the voice of conscience deep within. It is that Voice we hear when the noise of life fades away, and we can feel our lives and hear once more who we are, what we need and what God is saying to us.

In the silence of his soul, Jesus hears the Voice for which we all hunger, ‘You are mine. You are my true beloved. My pleasure rests on you. Live as one who knows my pleasure surrounds you.’

We all arrive in this world hungry for a food found only in the sheer delight of our mothers and fathers. We yearn for that look, that smile, those words that fill us with the knowledge of love, the awareness of our belovedness.

It makes us shine and glow, giving us the freedom to discover and become the uniqueness we each are. Souls that know and receive the glow of such love are more likely to grow in generosity and grace, becoming what they receive.

Without this blessing, we wither. We feel empty, and our hunger grows

There is no emptiness in this picture of Jesus. Baptized alongside other human souls, he prays, rests and hears that Voice of Blessing that fills and completes his soul.

It tells him whose he is. His entire life, the totality of his service, his words and ministry flow from this moment, this awareness.

His invitation is to us is to come, … sit by him, … listen, … hear … and know.

Know what he knows, hear the Voice he hears, hear him as he speaks to you and shares the belovedness that is in him.

‘You are mine. You are my true beloved. My pleasure rests on you. Live as one who knows my pleasure surrounds you. Live your life in constant knowing.’

The message of Jesus baptism and our own is that the light of God’s loving eyes rests on us. Always.

Imperfect and sinful we are. But the delight of God’s love is constant and unchanging. We can ignore and deny our relationship with this Love that looks on us with delight and longing.

But we cannot turn it off. This One, this blessing, this Belovedness is always there, waiting for us to listen … and know.

Pr. David L. Miller


Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Wednesday, January 9, 2013


Today’s text


Isaiah 43:1-2

And now, thus says Yahweh, he who created you, Jacob, who formed you, Israel: Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine. And now, thus says Yahweh, he who created you, Jacob, who formed you, Israel: Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine

Reflection

You are chosen. You are not and never were second best.

You are first and always were. Never settle for any estimation of your life that suggests that you are less than precious.

On the worst day of your life as on the best, you are my delight, my joy, my treasure.

On your happiest day and on days you feel most lost, alone and troubled, lift you head and know. Lift your soul and feel the warm of life within, filling you. I am that life.

Feel the hunger of soul for peace, for love. I am that hunger.

Feel the hope for that joy which has always escaped you. I am that hope.

Feel the delight that fills you at the sight of beauty and children at play. I am that delight. I am that beauty.

Feel the rush of warmth that floods you in moments when … somehow … you know all is well … or will be. I am that love. I am that warmth. I am that assurance. I am that knowing.

For I know you. I have always known you and always will.

How could it be otherwise? I formed you from the depth of my heart. You bear my life, the mark of my soul. I fashioned you for myself and for the joy I know in making all that is … and you.

From joy you are made, and for joy you are intended. You are an extension of my own soul, and that soul is love beyond limit, the love you know in every joy, each delight, every hungry hope and in the peace that comes and passes all understanding.

There is no need for fear, not ever. For I have chosen you. You are mine, and I am love.

Pr. David L. Miller