“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
– 1 John 3:1
Meditation
Do you believe you are a joy for God the Father? Though we may “know” the Father delights in us, we can have trouble truly believing it. Yet, we can consider our own situation. Do you delight in your children? They can drive us crazy, but at our core we know the answer – yes! Then how could God the Father not delight in us? He is THE Father!
So often we examine our spiritual lives based on only our faults and mistakes – only looking at ourselves. We can leave out the most important aspect: we are in an intimate relationship, a relationship with a God who delights in us and loves us! When we are able to look up and focus on who God is, we are able to truly believe He looks upon us with delight and love. Then, we can discover our delight in Him, and our sinfulness and imperfections will begin to be purified in and through His love.
Live It! Tip of the Week: Do I believe I am a joy for God the Father? Take some time to really ponder this question and rediscover intimacy with your heavenly Father who delights in you. Allow your life to be transformed from the inside out.
Prayer
“We give you praise, Father most holy, for you are great, and you have fashioned all your works in wisdom and in love. You formed man in your own image and entrusted the whole world to his care, so that in serving you alone, the Creator, he might have dominion over all creatures.
And when through disobedience he had lost your friendship, you did not abandon him to the domain of death. For you came in mercy to the aid of all, so that those who seek might find you. Time and again you offered them covenants and through the prophets taught them to look forward to salvation.
And you so loved the world, Father most holy, that in the fullness of time you sent your Only Begotten Son to be our Savior. Made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he shared our human nature in all things but sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation, to prisoners, freedom, and to the sorrowful of heart, joy.
To accomplish your plan, he gave himself up to death, and, rising from the dead, he destroyed death and restored life. And that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and rose again for us, he sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father, as the first fruits for those who believe, so that, bringing to perfection his work in the world, he might sanctify creation to the full.”
–Eucharistic Prayer IV from The Roman Missal.
