January 15, 2025
Epiphany Blessings,
This past Sunday we heard Luke's version of the baptism of Jesus. This is one of the only stories that is in all four gospels, but the stories are very different. During our bible study we looked at this story in the synoptic gospels: Matthew, Mark, and Luke (take a look at this link). All of them contain the affirmation of Jesus, " You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased." In all the craziness of life, hold onto these words, because God whispers them into your ears every day.
Every morning I have a poem in my inbox from Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. I know poetry is not everyone's cup of tea. But I invite you to take a sip and drink it slowly
Because It Matters I Say It
I remember in Finland
I lived a year without once
hearing someone say the verb
for love, rakastaa. As if it were
too precious to squander.
And it is precious. And still,
this longing to spend the word wildly,
as if there’s an infinite store of love.
As if I could say I love you
a thousand thousand times
and there would still be
a thousand thousand more
whispers of love left to give you.
Sometimes I worry I say it too much
so when you hear it,
the words enter your ears
like footsteps among a crowd,
unable to be discerned
amidst the noise of the world.
Even so, I continue to say it,
I love you, as you answer the phone.
I love you, as we say goodbye.
I love you as we stand at the grave.
I love you as we buy peaches.
As we walk in the parking lot, I love you.
I love you, as we sit on the couch.
I love you as I worry I say it too much.
I say it because it’s impossible
not to say it. I love you.
Because you are my canoe
in the rapids of the world.
Because each time I say it,
it feels like planting a seed
that will bloom for the rest or our lives.
Because there is nothing
more important to say.
You are loved by God and I love you too.
Pastor JJ
