He Is a Generous Father

There are generally two reasons why a father will be pleased with his child. The first reason is based on performance-how the child behaves and how he grows and develops over time. When his child's morality, work ethic, and overall disposition are positive, the father will tend to have a more positive attitude toward him.

The second reason why a father loves his child is simply because he's his child. This kind of love goes much deeper than his child's performance, looks, skills, intelligence, or success.

God is our Father. He loves it when we try to please him, just as he loved it when Jesus sought to please him. In this sense, God's words, "This is my Son, my Beloved, in whom I am well pleased" can apply to us when we try to follow the way that God has set before us.

However, it is more fundamentally true that our Father in heaven loves us simply because we are his children. His love for us doesn't grow or fade based upon what we do or don't do. Separation from God may cloud our view of his love, but it doesn't dimmish it. God's love is still there, as powerful as ever. We simply cannot see it when the path is blocked, for whatever reason. In tact, the case can be made that God pours out extra grace on those who are lost, confused, or discouraged just so they will be able to find God's great love for them.

Love Rains Down. When I pray about God s love for me, I sometimes lean toward an image of rain-a light drizzle or a fine mist. I imagine this rain coming down from heaven and falling all over me. If I move to the left, it's there. If I move to the right, it's there. If I sit down, stand up, or lie in my bed, it's still there. Whether it's morning, noon, or night, that rain is always falling on me.

In your prayer, try to imagine just how much grace your heavenly Father wants to pour over you. Try to see how much your Father wants to raise you up and give you a share in his divine love. Become a "generous receiver" and take in every gift that your Father wants to give you.

Being a generous receiver is something we can practice in a special way at Mass. When the celebrant invites us, "Lift up your hearts," we respond, "We lift them up to the Lord." In these few words, which paint a vivid picture of openness and readiness, we have a golden opportunity to let the Lord raise us up to heaven. With these few words, we can take on an attitude that says we want to receive all that our Father wants to give us at Communion.

He's My Dad. Like any good father, your heavenly Father wants to have a relationship of love with you. Don't reduce him to a detached creator or a distant ruler of the universe. Instead, give your Dad a chance. Get to know him for who he is-a Father who wants you to know his love more than anything else. May you come to know your Dad's blessing each and every day.

Joe Difato

Publisher

(joe@wau.org)

Copyright Word Among Us Jul 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved