Monday, July 24, 2023

Mark 1:9-11

Mark 1:9-11 

  In some ways, we spend our lives seeking the approval of our parents -- all of us need affirmation, and when we don't get it from our parents, we seek it elsewhere in the world.  We spend our lives wanting to know that we're good enough, that we've done enough, that we've justified our existence.  In the movie Chariots of Fire, one of the runners discusses the 10 seconds that he's running as an opportunity to justify himself.  It's sad to think of that... but we all probably have something in our life that we use to justify ourselves.
  The good news of the Gospel is that we don't justify ourselves.  In joining with Christ through our baptisms, we hear the voice of the Father speak the same affirmation to us that God spoke to Jesus Christ -- we are God's beloved children, and with us, God is well pleased.  No matter what we have done, the grace of Christ covers us, and we are accepted as God's beloved and treasured children because of the gift of righteousness given to us by Christ.
  So close your eyes for a second and breathe that in deeply -- you are God's beloved, and with you, God is well pleased.

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