His Beloved: Unveiling Your Identity and Purpose
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
1 John 3:1-10
See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called children of God. Yet so we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 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. Everyone who has this hope based on him purifies himself, as he is pure. Everyone who commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. No one who remains in him sins; no one who sins has either seen him or known him. Children, let no one deceive you. Whoever acts in righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. Whoever commits sin belongs to the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain; no one who does not act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.
Grace Prayed For
The grace to deeply understand and embrace my identity as a beloved child of God, allowing this truth to transform my heart and empower me to use my charisms for His glory in every encounter.
Reflection
Pause for a moment and let the profound truth of these words from John wash over you: “See what love the Father has bestowed on us that we may be called children of God. Yet so we are.” Can you feel the tenderness in that declaration? It’s not a suggestion or a hope; it’s a present reality. You are, right now, a beloved child of God. This is the very core of your identity, a gift bestowed upon you at Baptism. Imagine God looking upon you with an infinite, unwavering love, a love that calls you His own. This intimacy with our Trinitarian God begins here, in recognizing and truly accepting this divine adoption.
As His beloved child, you are not empty-handed. At that same Baptism, the Holy Spirit infused you with charisms – gifts meant to build up the Body of Christ and reveal His love to the world. These charisms are not merely talents; they are supernatural empowerments, unique expressions of God’s love flowing through you. They might be gifts of encouragement, hospitality, compassion, wisdom, or even a simple joy that brightens a room. When you live from your identity as His beloved, these charisms naturally begin to shine. You don’t have to strive to be someone you’re not; you simply need to lean into who you already are in Christ.
This passage also speaks to purity and righteousness. “Everyone who has this hope based on him purifies himself, as he is pure.” Our longing to see God as He is, to be like Him, naturally draws us towards holiness. This purification isn’t a burdensome task but a loving response to His grace, a desire to align our hearts more fully with His. And as His seed remains in us, we are empowered to choose righteousness, to live in a way that reflects our divine parentage.
When you step out into the world, into every encounter, remember who you are. You are not just a person; you are a living testament to God’s love, an ambassador of His Kingdom. Your charisms become the tangible ways His love flows through you. Perhaps your charism of compassion allows you to truly listen to a struggling friend, or your gift of hospitality creates a welcoming space for a lonely neighbor. It’s not about grand gestures, but about allowing your beloved identity to permeate your presence, your words, and your actions. Let your intimacy with Jesus fuel your encounters, knowing that as His beloved, you carry His light and love to everyone you meet. Each interaction becomes an opportunity to share the overflow of the Father’s love that has been so lavishly bestowed upon you.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post