Likewise, in today’s Gospel, John the Baptist proclaims Jesus as the Messiah and indirectly affirms the trinitarian nature of God. Implied is our brotherhood with Christ and our common Father in Heaven. In our Catholic in Recovery rooms, our brothers and sisters share the belief in the Holy Trinity as our Higher Power. Unlike secular recovery rooms, together we proclaim our Higher Power as God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Most significantly, we understand that the Trinity indeed has power! It is not simply a matter of choosing anything outside of ourselves to rely on to refrain from our addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. We believe that our God will bestow the graces necessary to find freedom from our life of bondage. Christ’s promise of His presence when two or more are gathered in His name takes on a deeper and richer meaning for those gathered together in a Catholic in Recovery group.

If we sincerely seek the acceptance of our place as beloved sons and daughters of God the Father, there is no limit to the capacity we have to remain in Him and live a life free of addiction. In doing so, we also have John’s assertion to consider: that we can live as saints and approximate a life of virtual sinlessness! Perhaps we consider this a tall order and an insurmountable feat, but in receiving and fully accepting our God-given identities as beloved sons and daughters, we know that we can do all things in Christ. May we pray for the courage to accept our place as God’s beloved and fulfill the destiny He has in store for us.

Reflection Questions

• In what ways do you seek to identify as a beloved son or daughter of God?
• In what ways are your Catholic in Recovery meetings similar to—and different from—your secular 12-step meetings?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: 1 John 2:29–3:6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 98:1, 3CD-4, 5-6
Gospel: John 1:29-34

Reflection by Mark L.