A Father’s Love

He heard, audibly, tangibly,
for the first time in his life,
in his early thirties, well into adulthood,
the words he longed to hear, words of love,
words of affirmation, empowering words
“You are my Son, whom I love,
and I am very pleased with you.”
Oh how his heart must have burst,
this mortal God, to hear his father’s love
shouted down from heaven, the Spirit,
as if his father’s hand, descending,
resting on him, anointing him, leading him
into his ministry, that moment of love
echoing still, throughout the generations
a love that changed the word
given voice, as he rose from the Jordan
preparing to save us all

January 11, 2009
Mark 1:4-11
Acts 19:1-7
and sermon, “Child of God”,
by Pastor Ruth L. Foss,
Suncook United Methodist Church
Suncook, NH