Happy new year! Happy new millennium! The word for the new millennium is an old one which you had from the start. "The commandment, now old, is the word you have already heard. On second thought, the commandment that I write you is new, as it is realized in Him and you" (1 Jn 2:7-8). "God is Love, and he who abides in Love abides in God, and God in him" (1 Jn 4:16). "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us" (1 Jn 4:16) as His adopted sons and daughters (Gal 4:5).

God, our Creator and Abba (Father) (Gal 4:6), adopted us. He knew He would adopt us before He created us. Therefore, every detail of our minds, dispositions, emotions, and bodies was custom-made to please Him. Each of us is the apple of our Abba's eye (Ps 17:8). He delights in our age, height, color, hair, etc.

God, our Redeemer and Abba, adopted us. The cost of the adoption was the death of His uniquely begotten Son, Jesus. "You are not your own. You have been purchased, and at a price" (1 Cor 6:19-20). Our Abba loves His adopted children in an extreme, radical, crucified, glorified, unconditional, infinite, perfect, and eternal way. Because He is all-powerful Love (see 1 Jn 4:16), He can and does love each one of His children personally and individually. Each one of us is special to Him.

Abba's love is so beyond our capacity to understand that He sent Jesus to love us with His love (Jn 15:9) and the Holy Spirit to cry out in our hearts "Abba" (Gal 4:6). At this moment of the new millennium, the angels and saints, especially Mary, are praying for us to know our Abba's love. Make this the millennium of love.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Edward J. Gratsch, July 15, 2000

Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 17, 2000