Feb 27, Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The familiar lyrics to one of my favorite church songs jumped out to me: "Do not be afraid...I will call your name...I love you and you are Mine." Later, in some quiet time with God, I tried to understand what God wanted me to hear through these words I have already heard so often:

Do not be afraid—I know your needs, and I will provide for them and you like the sparrows if you trust Me. If you do not trust Me, how can you trust that what I provide is good “food” indeed? How can you live in this way without worry if you do not know what I present to you is not poison?

I have called you by name—I know your name, your desires, your trials, and your heart. I am calling you. I am not speaking to the multitudes; what I am calling you to, what I am saying to you, is for you, Emily, to make you happy, to challenge you, to teach you about Me. I want to lead you to life ever after with Me. I am calling you to do something that, if you trust me through as I hope you will, will lead you to heaven with Me.

I love you—I have carved you in the palm of my hand. Even if a mother forgets her child I. Will. Not. Forget. You. You are unforgettable, Emily. You are exactly as I knew you would be. I made this way. I am love. I only make lovely, lovable things. You are lovely. You are lovable and I love you.

You are Mine—You cannot run from me. You cannot hide. I will find you, but you can hurt me. You can reject me, deny me, refuse to try to love me. But you are mine. Just like you cannot NOT be Caucasian, you cannot NOT be Mine. I made you for Myself. I have loved you before and after I made you. I gave you everything that makes you. I chose your eyes, hair, skin, smile. I made you from my own material which I made with love. You are mine in every way. The only things I cannot make or claim, unless you give your consent, are: your love for Me, your trust in Me, your faith in Me, and where you desire to send your soul at the end of time.