In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; in you my heart takes delight." (Gospel of Mark 1:9-11)

How often are we able to remember, feel, and know that we too are God's beloved ones, in whom God's heart delights?

Many times, we don't just forget to remember, we also hesitate to trust that each one of us is a beloved child in whom God's heart delights. It is often a challenge to accept that God's love for us is a given--not a maybe, not conditional, not fragile, but an eternal and daily gift.

Lately I have been re-reading the renowned Dr. Walter Brueggemann's commentary on Genesis, where this assurance of God's steadfast love for us, as we are, is wondrously articulated.

Walter Brueggmann is not only a biblical scholar and theologian, but also a mystic, poet, ethicist, and spiritual guide. Here is his understanding of how God regards human beings: "Human persons are honored, respected, and enjoyed by the one who calls them to be. And this gives human persons their inalienable identity."

Thank you, Dr. Brueggmann! May we learn to trust more deeply how beloved, respected, and treasured we are.

These insights from Walter Brueggemann can be explored further in his book, Genesis: A Bible Commentary for the Interpretation Series, John Knox Press, Atlanta, 1982, pages 31-39.