divine adoption
"Think! The heavens, even the highest heavens, belong to the Lord, your God, as well as the earth and everything on it. Yet in His love for your fathers the Lord was so attached to them as to choose you." —Deuteronomy 10:14-15
If I told you the president, a multi-millionaire, or a superstar had adopted me because he was so enamored of me, you would probably think I was crazy. Yet the fact is that God Himself, Who made universes, quasars, and galaxies light-years away, has adopted me to be His son. My heavenly Father holds the whole world in His hand and yet has adopted me, a mere speck on planet earth.
As far-fetched as this sounds, it is literally true. Jesus made it possible by becoming man and bridging the gap between God and man, heaven and earth. I accepted the adoption by faith expressed in Baptism and a personal commitment to Jesus. Now I'm in the royal family, an heir, in and with Christ, of my Father's infinite riches (Rm 8:17). I don't need to make it big; I already have. I don't need to win the lottery; I've got security and riches that make the lottery insignificant. I don't need anything but the opportunity to eternally thank Dad (Abba) for adopting me out of human misery into divine splendor.
You can be adopted too. "You did not receive a spirit of slavery leading you back into fear, but a spirit of adoption through which we cry out, 'Abba!' " (Rm 8:15)
Prayer: Thank You, Abba, for adopting me. I love You.
Promise: "Go to the lake, throw in a line, and take out the first fish you catch. Open its mouth and you will discover there a coin worth twice the temple tax. Take it and give it to them for you and Me." —Mt 17:27
Praise: St. Dominic brought many back into the Church by preaching the truth and praying the rosary.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our tape on Baptism on audio AV 47A-1 or video V-47A.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 8, 2005
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