proof positive
"This will prove that you are sons of your heavenly Father, for His sun rises on the bad and the good, He rains on the just and the unjust." —Matthew 5:45
We Christians maintain we are adopted sons and daughters of the perfect, all-holy, infinite Father Who created everything. This seems to be an outlandish claim, but we believe it is true, and we base our lives and afterlives on it. We believe God the Father adopted us when we were baptized because:
- He told us so through the Church and her Scriptures (see Rm 8:15).
- Our lives have been transformed. We are living as new creations (see Gal 6:15).
However, some people don't believe the Church and her Scriptures, nor do they see exceptional holiness in the lives of many Christians. How can we prove to them that we are really children of God and not deceiving ourselves? Jesus commands us: "Love your enemies, pray for your persecutors. This will prove that you are sons of your heavenly Father" (Mt 5:44-45). Love for our enemies is the most telltale sign that we are sons and daughters of God.
Therefore, especially this Lent, walk the way of the cross with Jesus and love your enemies as He does. In doing so, you are especially like your heavenly Father and clearly His sons and daughters.
Prayer: Father, thank You for the miracle of my loving my enemies.
Promise: "You will be a people sacred to the Lord, your God, as He promised." —Dt 26:19
Praise: Some of the families of the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing were, by God's grace, able to forgive.
Reference: (We offer a ten-day series of Discipleship Retreats from April 25-May 4. You are invited to sign up for one day, or for one or more of the retreats. Call 937-587-5464 or e-mail retreats@presentationministries.com)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert L. Hagedorn, August 1, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, August 7, 2002