A Love Letter

Since Tuesday of this week (today is Friday), the first reading has been from the First Letter of John starting with the fourth chapter. John’s letters are sometimes a challenge to read and often presents challenges in listening as the letter seems to continually curl back on itself leaving you to wonder if the author is repeating for emphasis or making a new point. But then again sometimes the message is clear enough: “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. If God so loved us, we also must love one another.”  Before moving ahead, perhaps a summary would be helpful.

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The Beloved Son of God

This coming Sunday in the Baptism of the Lord. At the next point in the narrative we hear: “And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”  The voice in Luke, as in Mark, speaks directly to Jesus. We overhear the words. In Matthew’s account of the baptism and all three accounts of the transfiguration, the voice speaks to those around Jesus: “This is my son….

What does it mean to be the “Son of God?” Luke provides answers to this in the larger context. The baptism in Luke is followed by a genealogy which ends with “son of God.” This is followed by the temptation story where the devil tries to help Jesus get a “better” understanding. Twice he states: “If you are the Son of God” (4:3, 9).

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