Adopted Children of God

The Advent/Christmas cycle of the Liturgical Year concludes today with the Feast of The Baptism of the Lord.  The end is the beginning, a startling beginning, for the "Voice" reveals who Jesus is:  "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." (Mt 3:17),  Jesus goes into the desert for 40 days, ends his 30 year "private" life and emerges to begin his 3 year "public" life. That voice echoes through the centuries and applies even to us, for in our own baptisms, we are made sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.  No doubt, during those 40 days, Jesus heard that voice over and over again, and in the years ahead, when he would pray through the night, that powerful witness would enable him to continue his arduous ministry and move forward toward the climax of his passion, death and resurrection.
This voice is there to help us as well with our daily life, our daily duties, our fatigue, our aches and pains, our frustrations and anxieties.  We need to remind ourselves frequently that we are God's children and come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of this relationship.  It's not just words, it's reality.  It is a grace, a gift, that lifts us to a new level and enables us to do far more than we ever imagined.
Can a parent ever forsake a child?  Can a parent not always seek what is best for that child?  So too with our Father...in his eyes nothing is too good for his children, for each one of us.
Bro. Rene