“And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” (Mark 1:11-12)
Jesus is baptized and named the Beloved and then is immediately driven to the wilderness.
Comforting or disturbing, this is life. From one moment to the next, we are celebrating a wedding, then grieving a loved one not present. We are bathing in the refreshing waters of baptism, then all of a sudden are driven out into the wilderness.
God provides a way out and reminds us that neither life nor death nor anything else can separate us from God’s loving embrace. Not now, not ever. God calls in transition; God calls right on time.
Today is the first Sunday in Pentecost. The readings for today are Acts 2:1-21; Ezekiel 37:1-14 (alternate); Psalm 104:24-34, 35b; Romans 8:22-27; Acts 2:1-21 (alternate); John 15:26-27, 16:4b-15. This message is adapted from “Faith reflections: Transitions and timelines” written by Joy McDonald Coltvet that first appeared in the January 2006 issue of Café magazine.