Jesus tells his disciples to “abide” in him. What does this mean for you? Abiding in God’s love is essential
for knowing our identity. It is only through God that we can know who we are and our life’s mission.
Unfortunately, we often allow other factors to form our identity: other people, our job, other responsibilities,
the expectations of others. We “can only know ourselves truly in the light of God” and we abide in God’s
love through prayer. Understanding our identity involves two kinds of self-reflection. First, we recognize
our wounds, selfishness, and the reality of our sin. Second, we recognize that each of us is a beloved creation
of God. The pathway to understanding who we are and our call in the world is abiding in a relationship
with Jesus, forming our identity within that relationship, and then becoming attentive to the missional call
of God. Jesus’ life followed this same path and modeled it for us.

What is forming your identity right now? Is it what you do—your job, family responsibilities, involvement
at your parish? Do you abide in Jesus or do you feel a separation? Jesus desires that we abide in him so he
might reveal the truth of who we are as beloved sons and daughters so that we may fully and joyfully live
our mission in this world.