From Gospel to Life: The "Family" of God

Examiner.com ^ | 01/26/10 | Joseph Speranzella SFO

[Jihadi Du Jour]

When one is close to Jesus, doing the will of the Father, it is a closeness that can only be described in famililial terms. Saint Francis also spoke about the "family" of God. In his Letter To The Faithful, he says, "To all those who love the Lord with their whole heart, with their whole soul and mind, with their whole strength (cf. Mk 12:30) and love their neighbors as themselves (cf. Mt 22:39) and hate their bodies with their vices and sins, and receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and produce worthy fruits of penance: Oh, how happy and blessed are these men and women when they do these things and persevere in doing them, since the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon them (cf. Is 11:2) and He will make His home and dwelling among them (cf. Jn 14:23). They are children of the heavenly Father (cf. Mt 5:45) whose works they do, and they are spouses, brothers, and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Mt 12:50). keep reading...

[T Minus Four]

OK let's see. To be children of the heavenly Father, people must:

1) Love the Lord with their whole heart, with their whole soul and mind, with their whole strength
2) Love their neighbors as themselves
3) Hate their bodies with their vices and sins
4)receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ
5) Produce worthy fruits of penance
6) Persevere in doing [these things]

Or, see John 1:12
[speaking of The Word, aka Jesus] Yet to all who recieved Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.

. I don't know WHAT to say about the next part - and they are spouses, brothers, and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ Brothers and sisters of Jesus, yes. Spouses and mothers? What?!

[T Minus Four]

Oh wait, it's you Joe, one of the remaining serial blog-pimpers.

Mod can you delete my comment? I don't like to encourage blog pimpers here on FR.