Part of living a life rooted in Christ is that we grow, step by step into being the best version of ourselves. But what does this mean?

When we are young, we are hopefully surrounded by people who help us learn about the difference between right and wrong. If we are very lucky we may have had parents/carers that knew that they were loved by God as they are and were able to pass that on.

Whether or not this was our lived reality, as adults we continue to discern who we are and who do we desire to be. We know from the Bible that everything God created was and is good, and that includes us, me and you. We often believe our goodness is dependent on the externals, our exam results, our finances, our intelligence. While these can all make a difference to us, they are not the sum total. Before any of these we are children of God, loved and cherished as we are.

However, as we can read in the Gospel from this Sunday's Mass, we don't always live out of our goodness, and make decisions that are not always made in the true freedom. The important message for all of us is that we may make mistakes, we can choose badly but we are never beyond the love and mercy of God.

As you live this week, remind yourself daily that you are loved exactly as you are. If you make decisions that you are not proud of, acknowledge them and remember, God's love for us is free and unconditional. We respond to this love each time we choose to be more loving, more generous, more compassionate.

Have a good week and as far as you are able, choose wisely.