I recall meeting a drug taking alcoholic lady who said, “I often wonder whether or not God really loves me the way that I am.” That’s a question many people feel compelled to ask because they are worried about finding approval in God's eyes.
It is always wonderful when we receive so much reassurance and strength from our loving God in our Sunday readings, such as we are receiving today! Over and over and over he tells us just how much he loves us!
Abraham was concerned about any "innocent" people that might be killed when God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wicked behaviour. And so he cautiously kept asking God, and kept on probing, to find out just how far God would go to save only a few innocent people out of so many. God repeatedly reassured Abraham that even if he found as few as ten innocent people in the midst of thousands of guilty ones, he would spare the towns because of those innocent ones (Gen 18:20-32). Then the Psalmist sings the praises of our God who always hears and answers those who call upon him (Ps 138:1-8), a God who responds on the very day that they cry out to Him. Finally, the apostles themselves see the serenity and peace that comes from Jesus' own prayer life, so they ask him how to pray. Once again, Jesus reminds them about the always-faithful God who always responds to the one who makes the effort to seek the Lord's help (Lk 11:1-13).
Perhaps the most reassuring of all the encouraging and loving comments today come from our God through an inspired St. Paul. In his letter to the people of Colossus, he reassures them -- and us -- that even though we were spiritually dead in our sinful state, Jesus took those sins and nailed them to his cross, thus bringing new life through baptism to those who believe (Col 2:12-14). The message is unanimous and the evidence is undeniable: the Father loves us with an everlasting, eternal love, so much so that his only Son gave his life for us!
Knowing that God loves us so much, we can’t continue to willfully disobey his laws as revealed to us through his Church. Instead we must seek forgiveness and return to the way Jesus wants his disciples to follow. We show our trust in God’s love of for us when we pray carefully and persistently the Lord's Prayer, which came from Jesus' own heart. It is the very centre of scripture, and is a summary of the entire gospel.
It is always wonderful when we receive so much reassurance and strength from our loving God in our Sunday readings, such as we are receiving today! Over and over and over he tells us just how much he loves us!
Abraham was concerned about any "innocent" people that might be killed when God decided to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their wicked behaviour. And so he cautiously kept asking God, and kept on probing, to find out just how far God would go to save only a few innocent people out of so many. God repeatedly reassured Abraham that even if he found as few as ten innocent people in the midst of thousands of guilty ones, he would spare the towns because of those innocent ones (Gen 18:20-32). Then the Psalmist sings the praises of our God who always hears and answers those who call upon him (Ps 138:1-8), a God who responds on the very day that they cry out to Him. Finally, the apostles themselves see the serenity and peace that comes from Jesus' own prayer life, so they ask him how to pray. Once again, Jesus reminds them about the always-faithful God who always responds to the one who makes the effort to seek the Lord's help (Lk 11:1-13).
Perhaps the most reassuring of all the encouraging and loving comments today come from our God through an inspired St. Paul. In his letter to the people of Colossus, he reassures them -- and us -- that even though we were spiritually dead in our sinful state, Jesus took those sins and nailed them to his cross, thus bringing new life through baptism to those who believe (Col 2:12-14). The message is unanimous and the evidence is undeniable: the Father loves us with an everlasting, eternal love, so much so that his only Son gave his life for us!
Knowing that God loves us so much, we can’t continue to willfully disobey his laws as revealed to us through his Church. Instead we must seek forgiveness and return to the way Jesus wants his disciples to follow. We show our trust in God’s love of for us when we pray carefully and persistently the Lord's Prayer, which came from Jesus' own heart. It is the very centre of scripture, and is a summary of the entire gospel.
RSS Feed