What if the encouraging voice within you is God speaking? In this episode, we reflect on the Baptism of Jesus through an Ethiopian mural from Axum and Luke’s account of divine affirmation. As we gaze and pray, we listen for the words of love and calling God may be speaking to us today.

Luke 3:21-22

In this episode of Art and Prayer, we turn our attention to the Baptism of Jesus as depicted in a mural from the Enda Yesus Church in Axum, Ethiopia. Paired with Luke 3:21–22 from The Inclusive Bible, the image invites us into a moment of profound affirmation: as Jesus prays, the skies open, the Spirit descends, and a voice speaks words of deep love and delight. This is not a voice of demand or instruction, but one of belonging — “You are my Own, my Beloved.”

As we linger with this moment, the episode draws on insights from Richard Rohr, who reminds us how difficult it can be to trust supportive, encouraging inner voices. Many of us have been trained to doubt them, to dismiss them, or to see them as self-indulgent rather than sacred. Yet in the baptism story, Jesus receives affirmation and recognizes it as coming from God — a holy encouragement that becomes the grounding force for all that follows in his ministry.

The Ethiopian mural deepens this reflection through its symbolism. John pours water over Jesus’ head as they stand in the river Jordan. Jesus’ arms are crossed in a posture of burial, reminding us that baptism is both death and rebirth — the letting go of an old self and the rising into new life. Created for a centuries-old festival celebrating Christ’s baptism, the painting reflects a communal memory of cleansing, acceptance, and renewal.

As viewers are invited to gaze slowly at the image, the episode encourages them to notice what stirs within — thoughts, emotions, memories, or quiet words that arise. Just as God spoke affirmation to Jesus, we are invited to listen for words of encouragement spoken to us. These are not voices to be discounted, but welcomed as holy.

The episode closes with a simple embodied practice: touching water to the forehead as a reminder of baptismal identity and God’s enduring affirmation. In a world quick to diminish and discourage, this prayerful act becomes a covenant — to trust God’s supportive voice and to let it guide us toward loving service.