“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” // Luke 3:22

I stood at the sink washing up dishes from breakfast, feeling my sadness. The day seemed fine, and yet the not-too-distant death of my father brought a cloud of grief that seemed to hang over me, even on a good day. Welcoming this emotion and being present to how I felt, I remembered that at any time I could step into the love God always has for me. At any time I could lean into the truth that I am God's beloved. Without avoiding, rejecting or shaming the sadness I felt, my body relaxed as my perspective shifted and love became my focus. It felt like a small "upward glance" (Saint Therese's description of prayer) that brought me a few moments of warmth, closeness, and intimacy with God, even while washing dishes.

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, concluding our celebration of the Christmas season. This feast is one of the three events that make up the celebration of the Epiphany: the Visit of the Magi, the Baptism in the Jordan, and the Wedding Feast at Cana. In these holy events, God's divinity is made manifest among us. God comes to meet us.

And yet, this holy feast is not just an event of the past. These mysteries can touch even the most ordinary human experiences of our lives, even standing at the kitchen sink. At any moment, you can open your heart to step into the love God has for you always and at every moment.

We hear the Father's words from Heaven over His Son Jesus:

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Luke 3:22).

What happens when you take a moment, right now, to open your heart to receive God's belovedness for you and allow yourself to step into the love He has for you in this very moment? Listen to His words and your heart.

[bctt tweet="God comes to meet us. // Mary Catherine Craige" username="blessedisshe__"]

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