This last weekend was a great one in many respects. The best part of it was that my Godson Enrique, or “Enriquito”, stretched out his arms to me for the first time. Enriquito is my first nephew, and I was getting worried because he got scared any time I tried to pick him up. But not last weekend. I didn’t have to do much for him to smile. A couple of times he even offered me his arms when he was with his dad or mom.

The experience of the weekend culminated in a deep reflection that God blessed me with at mass on Sunday.

All weekend I felt a tremendous love for my nephew - I prayed heavenly graces for him, all heavenly joy for him, a heavenly life. I love my nephew so much. I turned to my brother Enrique during mass, while he held Enriquito in his arms and whispered softly to him. I realized that while I love my nephew like he was my own son, I could not surpass my brother’s fatherly love. Enrique’s heart overflows everytime he looks at Enriquito.

It hit me then that God loves me even more than Enrique loves his son. He loves each and everyone like that, wanting all heavenly graces for every one of his sons and daughters. God takes delight in each one of us, just like I took delight in seeing Enriquito laugh and run around in circles.

The next reflection God gave me was to turn and look at Jesus hanging on the cross. For a small moment God led me to imagine Enriquito on the cross. I turned again to look at my brother. There’s no doubt that he’d submit to the cruelest tortures before letting his son die like that. And yet God our Father stood idly as his beloved son was crucified - for the salvation of mankind, for my salvation.