The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight” ’, John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. He proclaimed, ‘The one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’ In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. Mark 1:1-13
All of us have those we love in our lives, folks we would do anything for. We worry about their well-being and their happiness; we rejoice in their successes and comfort them in their hard times. We would do anything to get to them if they were in trouble. Jesus is baptized by John, and the heavens were "torn apart" so that the Spirit could get there and testify to beloved of God. All of us have torn through something to get to a loved one, especially a child or family member. I remember my daughter then small Emily, tearing off the protective gear they hospital demanded, so she could get close to me. I had been in the hospital for weeks without being allowed to see her. Imagine that God is tearing through the "heavens" for us. Aching to see us and tell us how loved we are. What an image to hold onto in the midst of a snowstorm here on the east coast!
Wondrous Creator, you love us all so fervently
that you sent you beloved, your son to love as we do
so we might see in the flesh your love for us all.
We think we can go unnoticed and un-cared for
yet even in our rebellion and many refusals
you tear open the heaven to reach for us in love.
Help us to seek you in every day and hour
letting your light find us in the storms of life
and filling us with fierce love and grace today. Amen.
