our father, indeed
“Your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” —Matthew 6:8
St. Philip asked Jesus, “Show us the Father” (Jn 14:8). Jesus replied: “Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9). On another occasion, Jesus declared, “The Father and I are One” (Jn 10:30).
In Eucharistic adoration, therefore, we see Jesus, and through Him, we see the Father. Jesus always is at work to bring us to His Father. Jesus teaches us that the Father knows what we need before we even can ask Him (Mt 6:8, 32). He is a good and loving Father.
Jesus came to reveal the Father to us (Mt 11:27). He says, “No one comes to the Father but through Me” (Jn 14:6). Throughout Scripture, a person’s identity is based on family lineage, on who was his or her father. If we don’t know who our father is, we struggle to know our identity. Whether our biological father was present, absent, loving or distant, God the Father desires passionately to adopt us as His dearly beloved child. This happens through Baptism. We become members of God’s family.
Your Father loves you so much that He sent His only Son into the world to die so you could spend eternity with Him (Jn 3:16). He takes you in His arms with tender love (see Hos 11:3-4). He loves you so much that His “heart is overwhelmed” (Hos 11:8).
It’s not the Father’s love that is lacking. It’s that we are unable or unwilling to receive our heavenly Father’s love. Will you give joy to the Father’s heart by letting Him love you?
Prayer: Abba, Father, I invite You to melt my wounded heart and love me into Your kingdom.
Promise: “When the afflicted man called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress He saved him.” —Ps 34:7
Praise: Samantha was a successful college athlete. Upon her graduation, she joyfully gave her life to Jesus and entered a cloistered convent to intercede for God’s people.
Reference: (For a related teaching on The Secret of Confession, view, download or order our leaflet on our website.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from February 1, 2026, through March 31, 2026. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio August 27, 2025"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.