Learn to be like God; Church Fathers: Day 061

St. Gregory of Nyssa gives us a daunting assignment: study the attributes of the Father, then learn to be like him.

After baptism, we are called God’s children. Therefore we should care­fully examine our Father’s characteristics, so that, by molding and framing our­selves in the likeness of our Father, we may appear true children of him who calls us to adoption by grace. For the illegitimate son who belies his father’s nobility in what he does is a sad reproach.

I think this is why the Lord Himself, laying down the rules of our life for us in the Gospels, uses these words to his disciples: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:44-45). For he says that they are “children” when their own way of thinking is molded into loving kindness toward their brothers and sisters, in likeness of the Father’s goodness. –St. Gregory of Nyssa, On the Baptism of Christ

IN GOD’S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . .

What could I do to be more like God in his love?

CLOSING PRAYER

Father, let your Spirit come to me and bring his gifts, and let him make my heart pleasing to you, so that I may be ready to do your will.

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