January 11, 2009
Big Announcement
Have you noticed how big events in the gospels get announced by angels? St. Luke tells that the angel came to Mary to announce that God has chosen her to be the mother of his son. St. Matthew tells that the angel came to Joseph to tell him that Mary’s pregnancy was from God.
It would be so much easier for us if we had regular (or even occasional) visits from angels that would explain God’s plan for us. But that doesn’t seem to be happening these days with any frequency. We’re sometimes left feeling that we have to figure everything out without angelic assistance. That’s not to say we don’t get big announcements (“You’re gonna be a grandparent!” (“You’ve got cancer.” “You got a promotion.” “You’re fired.”)
But these announcements don’t always help us to see clearly the divine plan.
Today we hear Mark’s gospel -- and Mark doesn’t tell of angels. On this last day of Christmas we realize that Mark doesn’t tell anything about the birth of Jesus. He starts with Jesus as a grown man, in search of what he is to do with his life. And when he happens upon John the Baptist, he is baptized by John. No angels involved.
Instead, Mark tells us that the big announcement is directly from God: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus’ response to this isn’t to immediately begin his ministry; rather he retreats for 40 days to figure things out with his Father. St. Mark suggests that the affirmation by the Father doesn’t give Jesus all the answers. But it gives him what he needs for the journey to doing his Father’s will.
Isn’t this familiar to us? We are told in our baptism (and reminded each time we receive communion) that we are beloved by God. While we’d like it if that affirmation would bring all the answers, it doesn’t. But our being initiated into Christ does establish a relationship with us and the Father. God wants to have the same affirming relationship with us as with Jesus. And so the Holy Spirit is sent into our lives to help us on our journey to doing God’s will. How and where is still being discovered. But who we are: God’s beloved, is not in doubt.
