Several years ago, Edward Farrell, a priest from Detroit, went on a two-week summer vacation to Ireland to visit relatives. His one living uncle was about to celebrate his 80th birthday. On the great day, Ed and his uncle got up early. It was before dawn. They took a walk along the shores of Lake Killarney and stopped to watch the sunrise. They stood side by side for a full twenty minutes and then resumed walking. Ed glanced at his uncle and saw that his face had broken into a broad smile. Ed said, "Uncle Seamus, you look very happy."

"I am."
Ed asked, "How come?"
And his uncle replied, "The Father of Jesus is very fond of me."

If the question were put to you, "Do you honestly believe that God likes you?" -- not loves you because theologically he must -- how would you answer?
God loves you by necessity of his nature; without the eternal, interior generation of love, he would cease to be God. But if you could answer, "The Father is very fond of me," there would come a relaxedness, a serenity, and a compassionate attitude toward yourself that is a reflection of God's own tenderness. In Isaiah 49:15, God says, "Does a women forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb? Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you" (JB).
 

"No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you or forsake you." Joshua 1:5

 

Brennan Manning
Reflections for Ragamuffins

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