God is Love
I will never forget the words of Dr. Eileen Sullivan-Burke in the very first class of my journey to obtain my Master in Christian Spirituality at Creighton University. ‘God is Love, and God can only Love.’ She stressed the importance of this understanding as we began our journey into understanding the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Love is the foundation of Christianity, and if we have this as our guiding principle, we will seek the ‘good’ in life.
In the first line of Psalm 139, ‘O Lord, you have searched me and known me,’ I was struck by the word ‘known.’ The psalm expresses God's presence throughout our existence: ' You knit me in my mother’s womb.’ God’s presence has been in us since the beginning and stays with us. We are called to remain in that love and allow God’s love to work through us. God desires this. This is the key to entering the Kingdom of God.
1 John 4:7-8
Beloved, let us love one another because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.’
This is all true, but it’s easier said than done. We are humans! Incredibly flawed and struggling in a very messed up world. Understanding and knowing God, the God of love, is hard to grasp as bombs are going off around you, children are starving, and young people are dying in the streets of drug overdoses. But we must begin with love even if we don’t know that love is anchored in God.
This love is not a ‘self’ love; it is not amorous; it is an ‘agape’ love. Saint John Paul II says in his book, ‘Love & Responsibility,’ ‘Love is always a mutual relationship between persons.’ (p. 73) ‘The commandment laid down in the New Testament demands from man love for others, for his neighbors—in the fullest sense, then, love for persons. For God, whom the commandment to love names first, is the most perfect personal being.’ (p. 40) God sees our imperfections and desires to be reconciled with us throughout our whole existence. He loves us so much that he sent his son, who we can look to and imitate. Yes, imitate.
Now, I don’t mean go and get yourself crucified, but tell you to love to the point you’re willing to. This kind of love and action shows empathy, extends the desire for the good of the beloved, wants the best, develops help, or demonstrates good intentions. Agape love is sacrificial and for everyone.
We have beautiful examples of this love around us; we need to notice them. My favorite is my younger sister, who serves the most marginalized and vulnerable people in East Moline, Illinois, from sun up to sun down. Her love for her clients is inspiring, and trying to keep up with her is exhausting. She is one of those 'diamonds in the rough.' Her program Respect-Abilities provides adults with physical and intellectual challenges with the opportunity to work and a place to belong. Everyone is welcome, whether they have funds or not.
Michelle Horton with participants at The 'Pre Shine' party for ‘A Night to Shine’ in East Moline.
I challenge you to find those in your inner circle who extend God’s love, whether they know it is God’s anchoring love presence or not. If it’s loving, it’s God. I would love to hear about these 'diamonds in the rough.'
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