"Beloved" - Lent Journal (29/40)

Have you ever noticed how often the authors of the New Testament letters call each other "beloved"? Paul, John, Peter, James, and Luke all use the term, and I think it's just beautiful.

I wonder who started doing it first? Was that a common phrase even in the ancient world that we just miss because of lack of context, or is this something distinctive to Christianity? I would guess the latter.

In all three Synoptic Gospels, the Father calls Jesus "my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased". This declaration is more than just a sign of affection, it's an identifying mark for Christ as being the second person of the Trinity. In other words, the Son is always the beloved of the Father - it is a necessary and essential characteristic of who He is.

What is fascinating about Christianity is the claim that we can actually enter into that dynamic (with God's grace, of course). When God became Man, he took on our humanity and elevated it. We are then invited to receive that gift: and what a gift, that we may be called the children of God! We are blessed to be able to join in the eternal dance of Lover, Beloved, and the Love they share.

So many of the New Testament letters and epistles are spent unpacking that and attempting to explain the significance of that idea, and it's certainly why we call each other brothers and sisters. But that term has been somewhat domesticated and has lost a bit of its punch when we throw the terms around without living out that reality in how we treat each other.

Now, beloved - that term still carries some weight, even if only sentimentally. It reminds me of sweet Spanish mothers calling their dear children mi amor, of lovers calling each other dearest.  Which I think is why it strikes me as so wonderful to see.

Now - all that being said, I suspect the authors are going for something much deeper than the lovely sentiments of terms of endearment when they call each other beloved. I read it as referring to our family ties - not with each other, but with Christ. The suggestion is that we are beloved in the same way that Jesus (the Beloved Son) is beloved.

That says a lot about our dignity in God's eyes, but it also speaks volumes about the reverence we should have for each other. When we use the word to refer to another, we are making a statement about their value, and reminding ourselves of the depths of love we aught to share with all humanity, though this is especially the case with all baptized Christians. And when I say all, I mean all - no strings attached. We can disagree, but we still need to see Christ in the face of the other.

So, beloved - be grateful for the respect and dignity that you deserve; but also remember that same perspective when considering how you speak about others.