God Passionately Loves You

Listening to the Spirit

God of Goodness, I come into your presence so aware of my human frailty and yet overwhelmed by your love for me. I thank you that there is no human experience that I might walk through where your love cannot reach me. If I climb the highest mountain, you are there and yet if I find myself in the darkest valley of my life, you are there. Teach me today to love you more. Help me to rest in that love that asks nothing more than the simple trusting heart of a child.

Listening to the Word

John 3:14-21

Jesus said to Nicodemus: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

Reflection

In our journey of faith, we often contemplate the nature of love, usually reflecting on our love for God and His people. While this is important, true discipleship begins with recognizing a profound truth: God's love for us precedes everything. This foundational love is beautifully articulated in this Sunday's Gospel reading from John 3:14-21, which culminates in the well-known verse, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life” (John 3:16).

John’s letter reiterates this divine love, emphasizing that “God’s love for us was revealed when God sent into the world His only Son…this is the love I mean: not our love for God, but God’s love for us” (1 John 4:9-10). These verses, both comforting and profound, remind us of the unconditional nature of God's love—a love so vast that it encompasses the entire world, offering salvation to all who believe.

However, there is a tendency to view such unconditional love with skepticism, as if it's too good to be true. St. Augustine, who himself came to recognize God's love later in life, expressed this transformative realization when he said, “I have learned to love You late, beauty so ancient and so new. You called me: You cried aloud to me…I am inflamed with love of Your peace.”

Reflecting on my years overseeing the formation house, I've encountered numerous seminarians who doubted that God loved them first. This disbelief can lead to low self-esteem and a disconnect from the very essence of God's call. Whether as candidates for priesthood or laypeople, we all must cultivate a deeper awareness and appreciation of God's love for us. It is not enough to merely accept this love; we must also return it to God's people, thus completing the cycle of divine love. In Tagalog, we say, "Hindi nagtatapos sa atin ang pagmamahal ng Diyos," meaning God's love does not end with us but is meant to be shared.

As we observe this Lenten season, let's ponder how we can nurture the love we've received from God. I propose a simple yet profound practice: Prayer. Prayer connects us with our Beloved, allowing for a personal and communal dialogue with God. Through prayer, we can express our love, share our concerns, and listen to God's voice. Remember, God passionately loves you. Let this season of Lent be a time when we return that love through prayer, reflection, and acts of kindness.