You are my beloved son

Relational & becoming

“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

This verse from the readings of the mass of the Baptism of the Lord are one of my favourites. When Father says this line to Jesus, it reveals of the identity of Jesus. Or it also reveals of the identity of the Father too. May be I like to reflect a little more on this one phrase — one statement of affirmation or identity, however we like to call it.

1. It is a relational statement : Identity of the Son is definitely linked to his own person, but it doesn’t make any sense without Father. In between the binaries of dependence or independence, relational statement is in the line of interdependence or connections.
2. It is a becoming statement, or the meaning evolves : The identity is not a fixed, closed box where the definition is given once and for all. It evolves. The understanding of that identity evolves. Being-son was not fully same in the baptism or during the miracles or during the passion. Each moment is also a moment of becoming son along with being son.

Identity is not something totally fixed or merely pointing towards — I, me, myself — it is relational and becoming. It can’t become without being relational; it can’t remain truly relational without becoming too.

You are my loved friend

You are my husband/wife;

You are a wonderful father/mother/child.

You are a wonderful person*

You are a child of God

Are such wonderful statements of identity of our own life and that of others also relational and becoming?

Relativity towards the other constitutes the human person. The human person is the event of being of relativity. (Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) — relativity is connected to relation here and not relativism.

Art is never finished, only abandoned (Leonardo da Vinci)

The canvas is never empty (Gilles Deleuze)