16 January 2012: Children of God -- Divine filiation

Awareness of our divine filiation gives meaning to our life. “I have been set by him as a king on Sion, his holy mountain, to tell of his decrees. The Lord said to me: ‘You are my son, today I have begotten you’.” (Ps 2:6-7)
“The kindness of God our Father has given us his Son to be our king ... ‘You are my son’: the words are addressed to Christ, and to you and me if we decide to become other Christs, Christ himself.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 185)
Divine filiation has a central position in the preaching of the Gospel. It is presented as a reality of God’s love for men. “See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (Jn 3:1)
Jesus Christ constantly revealed this truth to his disciples. He taught them to talk to God as their Father (cf Mt 6:9); explained sanctity in terms of a son imitating his father (cf Mt 5:48).
In many parables he depicted God as the father. Particularly moving is the parable of the prodigal son.
We enter into the intimacy of the Blessed Trinity through sanctifying grace without changing our nature as creatures through the gift of divine filiation. (cf F Ocariz, “Awareness of our Divine Filiation”, Pamplona, 1985) God makes us his children.
Divine filiation effectively transforms our inmost being. That is why “God sent his Son, born of woman so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying Abba! Father! So you are no longer a slave but a Son, and if a son then an heir.” (cf Gal 4:4-7)
“Our Lord gained for us the most precious Gift, the Holy Spirit, who makes us cry out ‘Abba Father!’, who identifies us with Christ and makes us children of God. ‘You are my Son.’ Not a stranger, not a well-treated servant, not a friend -- that would be a lot already. A son! He gives us free access to treat him with a son’s piety -- I would even say with the boldness and daring of a son whose Father cannot deny him anything.” (cf St Josemaria Escrivá, “Christ is passing by”, 185)
“The Christian is a sower of joy, a communicator of gladness; thus he achieves great things. Joy is one of the most irresistible powers in the world; brings about calm; soothes away anger, wins people over. He who is cheerful is a natural apostle. A cheerful countenance attracts men to God, showing them what the presence of God produces within the soul. [Thus] ... the Holy Spirit gives us the advice, ‘Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength’ ”(Neh 8:10). (M V Bernadot, “The Eucharist and the Trinity”, Madrid)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 3:7-9; 12

Some consequences of our spiritual childhood
Living as good children of God makes us see everything in the light of faith. Even minor incidents of any day accustom us to behaving constantly according to Christ’s will. (cf M Eguibar, “Why do the Gentiles rage?”, Madrid, 1986) We try to see everyone as brothers because we are all children of the same Father; and generates within us an urge to desire their sanctification.
Fraternal love will make us wish that people should come ever closer to Christ and should be more fully children of our Father God. We identify with Christ’s concern for the apostolate, his zeal for his Father’s glory and the salvation of all mankind. (B Perquin, “Abba, Father”, London 1965)
Spiritual childhood determines our whole supernatural being, shows us how to deal with every situation. A permanent character of our being, it suffuses and permeates all the virtues. (cf F Ocariz, op cit)
“We are children of God all day long, even though we do set aside special moments for considering the fact of our divine filiation, the essence of true piety.” (cf “Conversations with Monsignor Escrivá”, 102)
I am a child of God. If we frequently consider this truth, going deeper into its meaning, our day will be filled with peace, serenity and joy. We resolve to rely on God our Father, on whom everything depends, when difficulties and disappointments arise, and when sometimes the battle seems to be uphill. (cf J Lucas, “We are Children of God”, Madrid, 1973)
We will not lose sight of the truth that our Father is waiting to embrace us, to give us back our dignity as his children, if ever we lose it; and to fill us with good things at a splendid banquet, although our behavior may have been bad countless times. Our prayer will really be a conversation of a son with his father who listens and understands him.
“Everything that is on our mind and in our heart; our joys, sorrows, hopes, disappointments, successes, failures; even the most trivial happenings of our day. We will discover that our heavenly Father is interested in everything about us.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Friends of God”, 245)
Ref: Cf F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 9-11

Knowing How to Accept Christ
‘He came among His own people.’ Think of those who shut their interior doors to Him, and let us ask why. There are so many, many, many answers, objections, causes.
Our human power is not qualified to judge them. The Almighty alone searches the hearts and consciences of every person to the depths. Only the eternally Born; only the Son. In fact, the Father has made all judgment over to the Son, “the true light who enlightens everyone” (Jn 1:9).
How much man loses when he meets Him and will not see the Father in Him. God actually revealed Himself to man, in Christ, as the Father.
And how much man loses when he does not see his own humanity in Him. Christ actually came into the world so as to reveal man fully to man and make his most lofty vocation known to him. “Any who did accept Him, he empowered to become children of God.” (Jn 1:12)
Hence rises a humble prayer: that the people of our century may accept Christ. ... that there may be given to them the Power -- coming only from Him, because it is in Him alone.
[Our Holy Mother Mary will always show us the safe path to her Son. (F Fernandez, “In Conversation with God”, 1:55)]
Ref: Cf Pope John Paul II, “Prayers and Devotions”, 1994, p84

Spreading the Faith -- “Seek refuge with the Blessed Virgin, Mother of Good Counsel, so that your lips may never utter any offence against God.” (St Josemaria Escrivá, “Furrow”, 944)

• On this day Our Lady of Montserrat, in Spain, miraculously delivered several captives from the tyranny of the Turks. (Bethlehem Observer Historical Calendar)

• Our Lady of Montserrat delivers captives from tyranny of Turks, Spain. (www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html)
• Our Lady of Montserrat. Spain. Rescues slaves from the Turks. [DeLigney here cites Historia Monstiserr.]. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm)
• Our Lady of Montserrat (Spain). (maryfest.htm / www.starharbor.com/santiago/m_feasts.html)
Our Lady, Refuge of Sinners. (www.marylinks.org/Mary-Calendar.htm); www/divinewill.org/feastsofourlady.html); (www.iskandar.com/ourlady/ourladyfeasts.html); (www.miraclehunter.com/marian_apparitions/calendar/index.html); (http://mariedenazareth.com)