What Manner of Love the Father hath bestowed on us

Twenty-Fifth Sunday after Trinity, Sunday, November 17th, 2013

Fr. Todd Bragg

St. Margaret Anglican Church

Indianapolis, Indiana

"Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God."  (I St. John 3:1ff)

Remember from the Old Testament the story of Moses that the sons of the Hebrews were ordered to be killed and the mother of Moses placed Moses in a basket and floated him down the river where he was found by Pharaoh's sister, who raised Moses as her son.   Of course, we all remember this played out in that wonderful movie, the Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston?  Basically, if you remember the movie . . . and who doesn't . . . . it is very dramatic when Moses is portrayed as living the "Life of Riley" in the palace with all kinds of servants, and wearing fine clothing, and having power unimaginable.  But then he finds out that he is really a Hebrew, the son of Hebrew slaves and he chooses to live as a Hebrew, even if it meant living in bondage to the Egyptians.  From Hebrews we hear:  "By faith Moses, when he was come of years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter."  (Hebrews 11:24)  And further on, we read:  "By faith (Moses) forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."  In other words, Moses had faith in God, and would rather live in bondage with other slaves than to live in luxury under Pharaoh.  

In today's Epistle coming to us from the First Letter of St. John, we hear that the love that God has for us that He has called us to be His children.  It is interesting to hear about what people do in order to adopt children today.  All of the paperwork that they have to fill out.  All of the investigations that have to be done in regards to their background.  All of the thousands and thousands of dollars in regards to paying legal fees, medical bills, etc.  And, yet, they do all of this because they chose the one that they wanted to call their very own child.  Now, of course, adopting a child is not about the money that is involved but we only raise that issue to point out what people do in order to adopt a child and the price that they pay in order to place that child in a loving home.  Well, God paid the price as well when He adopted us:  He sent His only Son into the world to become a human; and that same Son paid the ultimate price upon the Cross.  So, seen in that respect, God, Our Heavenly Father, also paid a dear price for us as His adopted children here on earth:  He paid with His Son.

"And I will be a Father unto you and ye shall be My sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."  (II Corinthians 6:18)

But St. John goes on in this passage by pointing out that not only are we sons and daughters of the Father through adoption, but that we need to acknowledge this adoption by not sinning or giving into sin.  Now, of course, each one of us is human and therefore, we are all imperfect.  But we are called to do what we can by keeping in God's grace and away from sin as much as possible.  "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.  For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear: but ye have received the spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8:14-15)

St. John goes on to point out that we know that we are following in Our Father's footsteps by the way in which we treat those around us.  "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments."  (I St. John 5:2)  Thus, let us do what we can to not only obey the Commandments of God but also do what we can to love those around us.  Now, of course, we are not always going to like everyone that we come in contact with, but we need to do what we can to love those in whom we come into contact with.