"Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God's children."

At the beginning of the New Year we hear a very important call from Saint John the Evangelist. In his first letter he calls us to realize the love that the Father has bestowed on us so generously. The way to see the love of God in our lives is meditation - a time when we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit that He may permeate our entire being and teach us to follow the will of God. When we meditate on the love God has for us, we discover our Christian dignity as well. This dignity is to be God's children who share in divine life and love now and are destined to be transformed into the likeness of God in the life to come.

Our Christian dignity of being God's children is not only a privilege, but a great responsibility as well. St John tells us that we live this responsibility when we grow in our knowledge of God. There is a threefold way to know God better and it is gratefulness, making ourselves pure from sin and giving witness to God through righteousness.

Let us ask the Holy Spirit that He may open our hearts, minds, ears and eyes to the power of God's love.