A few days ago I was talking to a friend about the many blessings and challenges within the vocation of adoption - how a couple or single person comes to the decision to adopt a child or children. He brought up a point which has been stirring in my mind. He said, a child from birth is loved by their natural parents because it’s the natural response of the heart. But, an adopted child is loved by their parent(s) because of a discerned and active choice to love.

Well, I thought of this because the Collect for this Sunday’s Mass says: “O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth.”

We often hear in our scriptures and prayers how we are the “adopted children of God.” Children who are loved by a God who time and time again has actively chosen to love us. A love so strong that, despite the darkness in our lives, he sent his only Son into our world as the everlasting covenant of love. A God who actively continues to choose and renew us when we find ourselves wrapped up in those dark parts of our lives. But, a God who will always lift us up as his adopted sons and daughters. Chosen children whose divine adoption allows us to boldly stand up and proclaim that God’s truth of love shines brightly in our hearts.