See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
Amid an international maelstrom of liquid facts and amorphous identities, Saint John reminds his beloved, "we may be called the children of God."
Responsible parents, assailed by their teenage children who compare them to other children's parents, must often say, "Because you are my children! That's why!"
Perhaps belonging to God feels like bondage -- the New Testament writers insist they are servants of God and saints like Maximilian Kolbe prefer the word slaves -- but maturity proves that God's servants enjoy extraordinary freedom. Because we are governed by a higher authority, we can feel joy and sorrow without fear of divine rebuke even as human authorities tell us how we should feel. We know who we are: children of God made in his image, male and female.
We study the ancient sciences of theology and philosophy to discover the sources of today's misguided sciences, ideologies, and fads. Does anyone remember phrenology? Or the once-popular but resurgent eugenics? I think we can safely forget the goth that was so popular a few years ago; and the children who argued, "I can't help it if I'm goth! Or gay! Or trans! Or incel. Or whatever. Without the knowledge of God, they'll be something else by this time next year.
...rescued from the hands of enemies we worship himwithout fearin holiness and righteousness.... (Luke 1:74)
We carry this joyous freedom into 2026. Freed from fear we call a crisis a problem, study its history and how our forebears addressed it, and ask the Lord to guide us.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.