YOU’RE GOD’S

BELOVED

“For the Father himself loves you.” – John 16:27

If you’re a mom, you’ll understand what I’m about to say.

Your baby didn’t come out into the world saying, “Hi, Mom! I love you. You’re the most beautiful person in the world. What can I do to make you happy? A foot massage? A back rub? Breakfast in bed?”

Not a chance. When your baby was born, he didn’t even know you existed aside from being his food supply. All he did was cry and pee and poo. Yet you loved him more than yourself.

Oh, did you breastfeed? Do you remember how that little rascal didn’t even care that your nipple was in horrific pain or bleeding? The hungry tyrant would have sucked all your blood. Yet despite not doing anything good for you, you loved your baby.

I believe a mother’s love is the nearest thing we can ever have to unconditional love.

This is a picture of God’s love for you. Even before you do anything good, you’re already loved.

Cherished. Celebrated. Desired. Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

Reflect: Why do you love God? Why do you pray? Why do you attend The Feast? Why do you go to Mass? I hope your answer is, “Because God loves me.”

Dearest Father, help me to open myself to Your unconditional love. Amen.

St. Justin, martyr, pray for us.

We need to work with other people in preaching the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It is impossible for one person or a small group to achieve this. Let us discover how we can help and encourage one another in using our charisms and gifts. We can help enhance our ministries, just like what Apollos, Priscilla, and Aquila did.

Acts 18:23-28

23 After staying in Antioch some time, Paul left and traveled in orderly sequence through the Galatian country and Phrygia, bringing strength to all the disciples. 24 A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria, an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus. He was an authority on the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord, and with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus, although he knew only the baptism of John. 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue; but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the Way of God more accurately. 27 And when he wanted to cross to Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. After his arrival, he gave great assistance to those who had come to believe through grace. 28 He vigorously refuted the Jews in public, establishing from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.

John 16:23-28

23 Jesus said to his disciples: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. 24 Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25 “I have told you this in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father. 26 On that day you will ask in my name, and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. 27 For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”

think: What have you asked for in the Father’s name? Did Jesus give it to you?

Read the Bible in one year - 2 Samuel 1-4