Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

Indeed, the Son of God was revealed to destroy the works of the Devil. No one who is begotten by God commits sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot sin because he is begotten by God. In this way, the children of God and the children of the Devil are made plain; no one who fails to act in righteousness belongs to God, nor anyone who does not love his brother.

When it comes down to it, we are either children of God or the Devil. We can't be both. They are completely incompatible. We either love virtue or sin. We either love God or ourselves more than anything else. We might fall and falter at times or waver between one and the other, but in the end we will be in one camp or the other. We will be loving and virtuous or selfish and sinful. It is important to remember why Jesus came into the world. It was to destroy the works of the Devil. If we end up doing the Devil's work, then we will be destroyed, too. However, if we do God's Work, we will be saved from our sinful selves and remain in God's loving embrace, always.

Are we children of God or the Devil? Are we doing everything in our power to remain in and with God? How can we make plain that we are God's children?

O Lord, we belong to you and you alone.
Amen.