January 3, 2025 // Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Read the Word // Open your Bible to today’s First Reading: 1 John 2:29-3:6

Reflect on the Word // 

I hope you’ve experienced watching a small child at play. Maybe captivated in their own imaginary world, or running at top speed, or dismantling the contents of an entire kitchen cabinet in the span of four minutes, a child at play seems to have an intensity and focus we adults can only dream of mustering. Whatever activity they may be occupied with, children also have the ability to stop whatever they are doing and ask you a question out of the blue that you can’t believe they would ever think of,  let alone how they ever thought of such a thing while playing with such gusto. 

“See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called the children of God” (1 John 3:1). I wonder if God sees us like we see small children at play; focused and intent on our daily lives, unaware of anything outside of our immediate purview. 

“Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). We are like little children unaware of the larger, more complex, yet rich world when it comes to understanding what a life with God in Heaven will be. Just as so much of the wider world has not been shown to or understood by little children, so eternal life has not yet been revealed to us.

We need to ponder what that life will look like, and we need to ask God to show us what an eternity of being in His presence truly means. With His grace, we can approach God the Father with the same innocent boldness of little children. We can ask Him to help us understand how glorious life will be with Him in Heaven. Because just as we teach and guide our children in their wonder and desire to understand the world, so the Lord desires to lead us into His love, to remain with Him in the ways of faith, and to hope for and understand Heavenly life as His children. 

Relate to the Lord // Let yourself dream about union with God and the Communion of Saints in Heaven today. Recall experiences of God’s love in your prayer and in your friendships.