"In all truth I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born through water and the Spirit; what is born of human nature is human; what is born of the Spirit is spirit." (John 3: 5-6)
The Spirit and divine filiation
The Sacrament of Baptism washes away original sin and makes us member of the family of God. Moreover, we receive the Holy Spirit when we are baptized. The Holy Spirit makes us children of God.
"Happy are all who put their trust in the Lord….. Ask of me and I will give you the nations for an inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession." (Psalm 2: 11, 8)
Those who make the Lord their refuge are happy. The opposite of this is the truth: those who put their trust in the world are unhappy.
I trust in the Lord in everything, at all times and everywhere. For me, faith is greater than the purest of gold. The first fruit of faith is contentment. One of the fruits of faith that I cherish very much is courage.
I trust in the word of God. I believe God keeps every promise that He makes. This is why faithfulness is one of God's attributes that I love most.
"And now, O Lord, mark their threats, and enable those who serve you to speak your with all boldness." (Acts 4: 29)
Threats against the word of God or applying its lessons to our lives should be answered by prayer.
Help me Lord to speak your word with all boldness.
"Almighty and ever-living God, your Spirit made us your children confident to call you Father. Increase your Spirit of love within us and bring us to our promised inheritance…" (Mass Prayer in Easter Season)
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of:
Divine filiation is affected in us by the Holy Spirit. Using His word and the sacraments of the Church, the Holy Spirit configures us into the image of Jesus Christ.
Increase your Spirit of love within us.
"Lord, through faith and Baptism we have become a new creation. Accept the offerings of your people (and those born again in Baptism) and bring us to eternal happiness…." (Prayer in Mass of 2nd Sunday of Easter)
Faith comes before Baptism. Baptism makes us the adopted children of God. Faith and Baptism make us a new creation. And through the power of faith, we gain access to God's promises of:
The power of faith….
"In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 1: 6-8)
Transitions cause anxiety and sometimes suffering. I have known a few transitions in my life. It strikes me that whenever the Bible speaks of trials, it qualifies it with "for a little while."
Transitions test our faith. Scripture says that our faith is more precious than gold. I believe this. Offered the choice between a billion dollars and a strong robust faith, I will choose faith. If we stand firm to the end in the course of the trial, we will win and our victory will praise and glorify God.
During transitions, I remember God's promise: "I will never abandon you nor forsake you." (Deuteronomy 31: 6)