God’s Children

   “Pray then like this:  Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come.  Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matt 6: 9-13)

   Our Father.  What a beautiful thought.  God desires to be our father; he wants us to be His children.  The pagan gods were never thought of as fathers, but as rulers.  They demanded sacrifice.  Those who worshipped them sacrificed many things, including their children as a means to please them and gain their favor.

   God wants us to be His family.  He wants to give us many gifts and blessings.  Our relationship with Him is to be that of a father or mother and their children.  By extension this means that all of God’s children are our brothers and sisters.  Throughout the world for all time, God has granted to all who will accept Him membership in His family.

   In our earthly family there are sometimes disagreements and even serious arguments but we usually overcome them out of love for our family.  In God’s family there will also be these problems.  Satan takes great pleasure in dividing God’s family whenever possible.  However, if we can always remember that we are the family of God we can overcome these issues and strengthen and grow our family.

   As our Father, God will sometimes need to chastise and correct us.  Just a loving human father or mother corrects their children, God will correct us.  To allow our faults to continue without loving correction is not a sign of love but of neglect.  When we sin we should expect and, in fact, welcome God’s chastisement.  His loving correction is what will put us back on the path to our heavenly homeland.

   This family of ours is suffering.  We are divided over many things.  We look upon others and judge them by their appearance or where they come from.  We see our differences.  God sees no difference; He sees His children.  St. Theresa of Calcutta said, “I see Jesus in every human being.”  As the children of a loving God we can’t concern ourselves with our differences.  We too must see the face of Jesus in everyone we meet.

   “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are.”  (1 John 3: 1)