Brennan Manning — former Franciscan priest and author of Abba's Child, whose entire ministry centered on helping the 'little flock'—the ragamuffins, the overlooked, the frightened—hear this word from the Father.

From the writers we read together

Brennan Manning

Author of Abba's Child; 1934–2013

The disciples are a little flock—small, vulnerable, easily frightened. Jesus names their smallness honestly rather than inflating it, then addresses their fear with a startling basis for confidence: your Father's good pleasure. He is not reluctantly offering them a kingdom; He delights to give it. The word 'little flock' is tender, not dismissive.

Manning built his ministry on this word. Abba is not an exacting judge tallying failures—He is a Father whose good pleasure it is to give the kingdom to the frightened, the small, the unimpressive. Today, whatever makes you feel too small to matter: fear not. The Father's delight is toward you.