Thursday, December 14th
St. John of the Cross
Jesus said to the crowds who followed Him, "If any man comes to Me without hating his father and mother, children, brothers and sisters - yes, even his own life - he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple"
Luke 14:25-27

Each child of the Father born into the world begins his life as a reflection of the past and a statement of the total aggregate of near blood relationships - save only with one vital addition, which is that he has the inborn gift of divine personality and the potential for eternal life. Such is the endowment of each and every one of the Father's beloved children, wide as the variety is in manifestation.

From birth to the end of his life each person is subject to the influences of environment which he finds within himself. There, in and around that centre which distinguishes his identity that gift from the Father which marks him out for sonship Our Holy Spirit ministers to and I watch and wait, lead and engender growth,

As growth progresses there comes a point, and the point proliferates into a constant steady state in the mature soul, when the divine gift of peculiar selfhood is redeemed and sanctified by self-giving to that which called it into being. And that selfhood, the healthy developing, maturing soul, establishes a pattern and a rhythm of self-giving to the Father through Our light and life and love which the Father takes to himself with joy and dispenses among his beloved children on earth for their illumination, direction and sustenance in the way.