God's love for us

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11th Sunday, Year C

It is tempting when we first hear our readings today to focus on sin and forgiveness. Perhaps I might labour the need for us to be ever mindful of the Sacrament of Confession; but I suspect you have heard this often enough over the years. Rather, I think there is mileage in reflecting upon love.

In our first reading we hear God, speaking through Nathan, who tells David exactly what he has done for him. We hear of the many wonderful gifts which the Almighty has lavished upon David, and then, astonishingly, God says “and if this were not enough, I would add as much again for you.” God speaks these words to you now. There is simply no length which God will not go to demonstrate his love for you.

We can easily identify that Jesus loves us to the point of his death, quite literally upon the cross, but there is another aspect to this. God, the Father, gave his Son that we might be saved. God gave his Son. The Father allowed his Son to suffer in terrible pain and humiliation because he loved you so much! And if this were not enough, I would add as much again for you.

Put the love of God into this context and you can begin to realise the haunting words of God come down to you now through the centuries: Why have you shown contempt for the Lord? For this is what sin is, it is utter contempt for one who loves you beyond all measure.

It reminds me of a friend of mine, who is a priest, who took advantage of the opportunity to go to Confession whilst on pilgrimage to Rome. He went into the box which was headed up English and began by saying the usual: forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. It has been x weeks since my last Confession. I am a priest and these are my sins. He promptly rattled off his sins, which to be fair were not excessive and awaited the counsel of the Confessor. The response was prompt and cut straight to the point: Why do you spit on the face of Christ?

Harsh though this is; it is the truth. Sometimes I can be so focussed on MY sin, on what I have done, or not done, what I have said or not said, what I have thought or failed to consider that I forget the effect upon Jesus. It is as though I have focussed on the shock of spitting on the face of Christ and missed the hurt in his eyes. Of course as soon as I see the eyes, the tears welling and the harsh reality of the effect I have caused I’m torn with guilt.

The psalmist understands all too well the frailty of human beings. He begs: forgive, Lord, the guilt of my sins. Admitting we have done something is, relatively speaking, easy compared to admitting our guilt in the situation. The language of love, on the other hand, is simple. I love you. We don’t say: when you look at me in such a way as to make me feel great and leave me feeling like I want to laugh out loud, to hug you and to kiss you and within me this evokes a feeling of wishing to reciprocate because to not do so may mean that I am not being entirely honest with myself, nor you for that matter and so I feel compelled to look at you in the same way. No. We simply say I love you and this is everything.

Now ask yourself this simple question. Does God love you? Does God love you? The answer should be short and sweet. If you answered no: go and speak to a priest, or someone who can offer you assurance. If you answered well probably, but I’m not certain and anyway how can any of us be certain but on balance then he probably does: God puts no conditions on his love for you so why do you put conditions on your acceptance of the love of God? If you answered yes: your faith has saved you; go in peace.

I Love You

Acts 14:21-27; Ps 144; Ap 21:1-5; Jn 13:31-35

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. These three simple words can and have changed the course of history. Think about the ramifications of Henry VIII and his love for Anne Boleyn, think about Romeo and Juliet, and think about Paris and Helen of Troy. Love truly can change the way of the world. Yet these three simple words in themselves don’t bring about change. It is the actions which then follow or which lead up to such a declaration of love.

Jesus tells us, today, love one another. He commands us to love. Now when he says this is itself important. He says it after having just washed the feet of his disciples. In other words, he has already demonstrated to his disciples and, therefore, to us that to love is to act. Just as I have loved you. What I have just done you, too, must do. You must wash the feet of those whom you know.

Does Jesus mean we literally must get out to Morrison’s and buy some soap and towels? Well, if need be, then yes he does. If it is that someone needs to have their feet washed then that is what we must do to show our love for one another. Whatever are a person’s needs is how we must respond. Though I suspect we will not meet many persons who need to have their feet washed, we will most certainly meet people in need. Jesus commands us to respond to that need in love.

How many homeless people did you help this last week? How many people begging for money did you walk past? When did you feed the hungry last? How about those who thirst? Did you satisfy them? I’m not talking about someone who needed a drink. I’m talking about those who are in need of salvation. Those who need to hear the Word and have their thirst for truth satisfied. These are people hungry and thirsty for the Word made flesh.

When I was sick you visited me. How many people who were sick did you visit? Perhaps you’ve been to prison, or to hospital, or to an old folk’s home.

You hear what I’m saying. If you love one another then you will be acting to bring about the kingdom of God. Jesus didn’t say you have to like someone. He said you have to love another. If you are a Christian, if you are a follower of Christ, then listen to the master speak. Listen to his words and act upon them.

Finally, who was it that Jesus loved. Well, everyone, yes but whose feet did he wash? He washed the feet of Peter, who would deny him three times, and he washed the feet of Judas, who would leave that room and betray the Son of Man. Jesus was put to death by those whom he loved!

I love you. Say what you mean and mean what you say.