Children of God

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

   If, as John writes, we are children of God then we are family.  As God’s children we are brothers and sisters to each other.  How sad that we rarely act as a loving family should.  In many ways we are quite dysfunctional in our family life as God’s children.  We often don’t love as we should.

   When we go to Mass it should be as going to a family reunion.  Uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters all getting together to enjoy each other’s company and to learn more of our family history.  Just as we would at any family reunion we have a meal though not one we prepared and brought.  Our meal is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ in the Eucharist.  Truly food from heaven.  The history of our family is in the scripture we hear, once passed along orally as many family histories are but now written down for our benefit.

   The Lord’s Prayer we pray is a communal prayer.  It isn’t the “My Father”, it is “Our Father”.   We pray for our daily bread; we ask that our trespasses be forgiven; that we not be led into temptation.  There is nothing singular about it, it is a family prayer for the good of all of God’s children.

   Jesus came to save the world, not just you or me, but all of us.  Those who have accepted His salvation have been adopted into the family of God.  We are no longer to act as strangers but as family.  We are to approach everyone as if they are part of our family and offer them the love Christ offers us.  Some may reject us, but we must still look for God in each one.

   In our worldly family there can be many problems.  As members in the family of God we can overcome them and love our family even when they refuse to love us.  God’s family is one of love and forgiveness.  The more we share His love for us the more love we are given to share.

Father, You are love itself.

Teach us to love as You love.

Open our hearts, fill us with Your spirit.

Help us to see You in everyone we meet.

Amen