Hosea 11
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
2 The more I called them,
the more they went from me;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals,
and offering incense to idols.
3 Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk,
but they did not know that I healed them.
4 I led them with cords of human kindness,
with bands of love.
I was to them like those
who lift infants to their cheeks.
I bent down to them and fed them.
8 How can I give you up, Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
9 I will not execute my fierce anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and no mortal,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
The Baptism of Jesus (Mark 1.9-11)
In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him.
And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’
An Australian aboriginal birth
Pain struck again. In her struggle to blow out short puffs of air to control her level of discomfort, she managed to think, Welcome little one. Come now, today is a good day to be born. A few more panting breaths, one great groan, and out she came, the perfectly formed infant girl.
The mother scooped the slimy new-born into her arms. Holding the baby out in front, she looked directly at the glossy black eyes of the silent child and said,
“Know you are loved and supported on this journey! I speak from behind my eyes, from the Forever part of me to behind your eyes.
From ‘Mutant Message From Forever’ a novel by Marlo Morgan