I was chosen by you before the foundation of the world.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will.” -Ephesians 1, 3-5
Have you ever watched a cartoon scene where a character is outside the house watching from a window a happy family gathered around a warm chimney laughing and having an intimate and joyful moment together? Sorry for the hyper-specific scene haha, but, to be honest, I’ve felt like this character countless times in my life. I’ve felt like this with my family, with my friends, at work, meeting new people, and even at Church.
I’ve felt out of place as if I do not belong anywhere. I tried, of course, to be part of the group, to not be “the awkward”, “the sensitive”, “the one making people feel uncomfortable”, but the sense of isolation and loneliness had followed me for such a long time.
I even remember once, when I told a dear close friend of mine that I didn’t even know if I was catholic anymore because I didn’t feel part of the church. She looked at me and with conviction and love she said “Maria, you received the sacrament of Baptism. You are and will always be part of the Catholic church.” She has no idea how impactful her statement was. Her words gave me such consolation and reassurance that, even if I “didn’t feel like it”, I was and am part of the Church. I belong. “Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ: “Therefore . . . we are members one of another.”71 Baptism incorporates us into the Church. From the baptismal fonts is born the one People of God of the New Covenant, which transcends all the natural or human limits of nations, cultures, races, and sexes: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body.” (1267 Catechism of the Catholic Church)
If you have ever felt like you do not belong, or that you are “too weird”, “too awkward”, “too sensitive”, “too much to handle”, you name it, in the name of Jesus send those lies back to hell, which is where they belong. It is truly an honor for me to tell you that you belong. You belong to a Father who willed and formed you. You belong to a lover who came to this earth and died for you because he yearns and thirsts for you and cannot conceive the possibility of spending eternity without you. You belong to the holy spirit who desires to abide in you forever.
“But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, Jacob, and formed you, Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.” -Isaiah 43-1
If you have ever experienced rejection, if you have ever been ignored, betrayed, neglected, abandoned; if you have ever felt like you couldn’t be yourself because people would leave or make fun of you, I am really sorry. You, my dear sister, were made for love, to be seen, cherished, and received. You were made for communion, so you could also see, cherish, and receive others. And I am so sorry for what led you to believe that you do not belong or that you are not loved and wanted because it is not true.
“We love, because He first loved us” -1 John 4, 19
If you have ever stopped yourself from meeting new people, making friends, or trying something new for fear of being left out, as your sister, I am here to tell you that you were made for greatness and not for fear. This is the truth.
“For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control” -2 Timothy 1, 7
I am truly sorry for what caused you these feelings of loneliness, but I am here to tell you that you belong. You belong to Christ who laid down his life for you. You were made for greatness and communion. This is the truth.
