First Reading: Ephesians 6:1-9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145
Gospel: Luke 13:22-30
Right now is a a very exciting time for my wife and I, as we are expecting our first child. It is truly a joy to be blessed with such an amazing gift from God. While our excitement is certainly at a high, we also realize the important role that God has given both of us. In preparing for the arrival of our child (we are due this spring), I pray everyday for God's help. I pray that He will help to prepare me to be the father that He created me to be. I think that many men and women question the type of parents that they will become once they are expecting a child, and they should. The truth is, that if we rely solely on ourselves to be the best parents we can be, we will fail ... but if we rely on God to help us be the parents that He created us to be, then we will succeed. And in succeeding, we will pass onto our kids something that no one can ever take away from them ... their faith, hope, and love of God. Saint Paul tells us today to how we should go about raising our children, to "bring them up with the training and instruction of the Lord."
God calls each of us to many things in our lives; marriage, parenthood, a religious vocation, students, teachers, businessmen, "joe the plumbers," etc. He calls us to many things in our lives, and we should try to give Him glory through all that we do. In whatever we are called to we should strive to be the best that we can be to honor God. In order for us to be the best that we can be while on this earth, we must first strive to be good sons and daughters of God. If we cannot be the sons and daughters that we were created to be, then we cannot have any hope of being the best at what we are doing in other areas of our lives. God asks that we put Him first, after all He is the one who gives us life, and offers us salvation.
While I am preparing for fatherhood, while also trying to be the husband that I was created to be, I know in my heart that I cannot be any of these things to my family unless I am willing to be a humble, loving, obedient son.
Are you putting God first in your life? Are you asking God for help in becoming the son or daughter that you were created to be?
"Slaves, be obedient to your human masters with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ, not only when being watched, as currying favor, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, willingly serving the Lord and not men..." (Eph 6:5-7)
Father above, we thank you for our lives. We thank you for calling us to where we are at, and we pray for your guidance in our lives. Lord, let only your will be done in us, and give us the strength and courage to persevere against all the things and people who would try to hold us back from you. Lord, we praise you name as blessed children, and thank you for all that we have and all that we are. We ask this all through Christ our Lord. Amen.
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