A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[667] Revelations 7:2-4, 9-14 Psalm 24:1-2, 3-4ab, 5-6 1 John 3:1-3 Matthew 5:1-12a

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1 NLT)

As a young child I always knew that mom and dad were never wrong and almost always had all the answers. On top of that I never had a moment where I couldn’t be consoled by a hug and a kiss from my mom and dad. After some relatively rebellious high school years where I thought that mom and dad didn’t know anything, fortunately I know longer think that mom and dad are clueless and know nothing; and that especially in high school they were usually right, and always looked out for my best interest. But one thing that I have also learned as I have grown older is that mom and dad don’t always have the answer, and there are many problems that are too big for mom and dad to fix. Beyond that there are many problems that people themselves can’t fix whether it be parents, grandparents, friends, a boyfriend or girlfriend or anyone. Sometimes no matter who we turn to, no one will have the answers, and no one will be able to help us.

This can be scary and disheartening, however I feel that almost all of us can relate. We’ve almost all had a time in our lives when everything seemed to be going wrong, no one understood, and no one could help. As scary and sad as this may seem, we are reminded that we have a heavenly Father, one who loves us more than we can imagine and who is always there for us. 1 John says that he loves us so much that he calls us children and allows us to call him Father. It reminds me of when Jesus said “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11 NIV).

To me this is the most comforting news of all, that the most powerful being in the universe, who is sovereign and in control over all, loves and cherishes me! And just as mom was able to take care of my scrapes as a child with a bandaid and a kiss, so too is God able to heal my wounds now and make me feel more loved than I could have possibly ever imagined.