This Is My Beloved Son: The Father’s Declaration of Love and Our Share in Divine Love
The Father’s declaration, “This is My beloved Son,” resounds throughout the New Testament, revealing the unique relationship between the Father and the Son. It emphasizes Jesus’ divine identity, eternal Sonship, and the mission He fulfilled on earth. Moreover, it invites believers not only to partake in this divine love but also to respond with lives of gratitude, obedience, and love for God and others, particularly through Christ and the Eucharist. The Father’s Declaration of the Son’s Identity The phrase “This is My beloved Son” affirms the Lord Jesus’ divine Sonship and the Father’s approval of Him. At Jesus’ baptism, the Father declares, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased” (Matthew 3:17), marking the beginning of His public ministry. This moment reveals Jesus as the Messiah and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Similarly, at the Transfiguration, the Father again proclaims, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!...