Being Children in faith

WORD 2day: Saturday, 27th week in Ordinary time

October 12, 2024 - Galatians 3: 22-29; Luke 11: 27-28

Being related to God is a faith experience. I do not call you servants but friends, declared Jesus. Remain in my love, he invites. I shall be your God and you shall be my people, was the mind of Jesus, the same as when God made the covenant with the people. Being related to God is a need, a longing, and a recognition that gives me my identity. 

Since it is a need, it has to be sensed by the person proper. Although it is given, a grace, the effort has to be from my part to receive it and make it my own. It has to become a longing, that is a need continuosly felt, not just some sporadic enthusiasm expressed. Above all, it is a recognition of what is already there. There is nothing new to be made of me. I am already a child of God, it is so that God has willed it. But I need to recogonise it so.

However, the fundamental truth to be underlined here is - that identity, does not come by default. Merely because I am baptised I don't belong to Christ or I don't become a child of God. Paul says, I need to clothe myself with Christ. My mentality has to change and be transformed. That is what Jesus means when he says it is more important to hear the words of the Lord and put them to practice than to go around saying I am a Christian.

We need to become children of God not merely by title but in faith.