07/09/2026
[SSVP Reflection - September]
Surely we all have read or heard at Mass that when Jesus was baptised, a voice from heaven said, “You are my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased”. This declaration signifies God’s affirmation and love for Jesus, establishing Him as His beloved Son. In this context, “beloved” means cherished, loved, and valued. Essentially God was saying “This is my Son, and I am absolutely delighted in Him.” We can find the baptism of Jesus in the four Gospels (Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1: 9-11, Luke 3: 21-22 & John 1: 32-34) .
As followers of Jesus, we too are also called beloved. See Ephesians 1:6, which says “To the praise of His glorious grace, with which He has blessed us in the beloved”. And in Colossians 3:12. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy, and dearly loved, clothed yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” These two Scripture verses have reminded us of God’s profound love and acceptance of us as His beloved children. Recognising this can bring us a deep sense of joy and gratitude for life itself! So in our lives do we receive these two gifts? If we have, they will encourage us to appreciate the single moments, the beauty around us, and the connections we share. Isn’t it wonderful! Indeed, it’s not about our performance or worthiness. It’s about God’s love and acceptance.
We all may ask what exactly is it supposed to tell us of being called beloved! Here are some aspects of being beloved in Christ:
Unconditional love - it’s a love poured out for us through Jesus’s sacrifice. It isn’t based on our performance or our achievements.
Intimacy with God. Being loved we all have access to a deep, personal relationship with God , where we can come as we are and be loved.
Belonging. As a beloved child of God, we belong to His family and have a purpose in His kingdom.
New Identity. In Christ, we are a new creation, loved and accepted no matter what!
Pause and let all the above sink in. However, for many of us in order to believe and appreciate it that we are God’s beloved we are going to need the Holy Spirit to work in our lives to help us believe that we are beloved. So why not stay quiet for a while and listen to the voice that calls us Beloved. Go ahead and savour it for a minute. How’s that for a confidence boost? What do we think about it?
Next we may still like to ask - How does one go about living out the Belovedness. Here are some suggestions:
Self acceptance and worth. Once we have claimed the truth of being the beloved, then we are inherently worthy, just as we are. And living this out means practicing self- compassion, letting go of harsh self- judgement and recognising our intrinsic value, not just what we achieve or what others think of us.
Loving others. Becoming the beloved means letting the truth of our Belovedness become enfleshed in everything we think, say or do. It somehow extends to seeing the belovedness in others. And this will inspire us to treat everyone with kindness, empathy, and respect, understanding that they too carry that same inherent worth.
Trust and surrender. Believing we are beloved can foster a sense of trust in God’s larger plan or purpose for us, even when things are tough. It’s about leaning into a feeling of being cared for and guided.
So, know that becoming the Beloved is definitely a spiritual journey not a destination, and something we can continuously explore and deepen in our lives.
To end, reflect prayerfully on the Gospel accounts of the baptism of Jesus, putting ourselves in the place of Jesus.
Then pray like this: O Lord, look with favour on us, your people, and impart your love to us - not as an idea or concept, but as a lived experience. We can love each other because you have loved us first. Let us know that first love so that we can see all human love as a reflection of a greater love, a love without conditions and limitations. Amen.
SSVP Faith Formation and Development Team
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