YOUCAT Question n. 515 - Part I. Where do we get the confidence to call God “Father”?
(Youcat
answer) We can be so bold as to address God as Father because Jesus has called
us to a close relationship with himself and made us children of God. In
communion with him, “who is in the bosom of the Father” (Jn 1:18), we are
privileged to cry, “Abba, Father!”.
A deepening through CCC
(CCC 2777)
In the Roman liturgy, the Eucharistic assembly is invited to pray to our
heavenly Father with filial boldness; the Eastern liturgies develop and use
similar expressions: "dare in all confidence," "make us worthy
of...." From the burning bush Moses heard a voice saying to him, "Do
not come near; put off your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you
are standing is holy ground" (Ex 3:5). Only Jesus could cross that
threshold of the divine holiness, for "when he had made purification for
sins," he brought us into the Father's presence: "Here am I, and the
children God has given me" (Heb 1:3; 2:13). Our awareness of our status as
slaves would make us sink into the ground and our earthly condition would
dissolve into dust, if the authority of our Father himself and the Spirit of
his Son had not impelled us to this cry… 'Abba, Father!'… When would a mortal
dare call God 'Father,' if man's innermost being were not animated by power
from on high?" (St. Peter Chrysologus, Sermo
71, 3: PL 52, 401CD; cf. Gal 4:6).
Reflecting and meditating
(CCC Comment) (CCC 2797)
Simple and faithful trust, humble and joyous assurance are the proper
dispositions for one who prays the Our Father.
No comments:
Post a Comment