He Calls you "Gift."

I can very clearly remember the first time I truly KNEW Christ's love for me. I was 12 and sitting on my bed one night with my new teen Bible open on my lap.

I was flipping through, trying to be quiet while my little sister tried to sleep across the room, and I came to the Gospel of John. I randomly started reading. One verse- John 17:24- made me pause that night, and it changed absolutely everything.

"Father, they are your gift to me."

I remember thinking "Wait, Jesus. Me? I am a gift? But I caused you so much pain."

I read and re-read. Traced the line with my finger, wondering if it could be real- this simple prayer of Christ that made everything fall into place.

As tears welled up in my eyes, in the stillness of my room, I felt the Love of Jesus in a way that was different and entirely new.

It was intimate.

Sacrificial.

Because He knew what had to happen and what He would endure- and yet, even before it happened, He thanked the Father for us.

And even more than that, Jesus saw humanity as a GIFT!

He loved us so much that even then, knowing what suffering would occur, He wanted to thank the Father for us- because He knew that His suffering would bring about eternal union with His Bride- the Church.

In that moment, something stirred in my heart. The Holy Spirit rushed in, and I was given the grace to see that Jesus was not only saying that the entirety of humanity was a gift- but also that I am a gift to Him from the Father Himself.

And so are you, friend.

When I saw that this verse was included in the readings for this Sunday, I knew that I needed to share this with you.

You are the Father's gift to the Son- loved in every moment beyond all imagining.