May the Lord give you grace and peace in the Holy Spirit. It is on 15th December 2022.
We reflect on Isaiah 54:1-10 and Luke 7:24-30.
What is holding back God’s love in our life?
“To love or have loved, that is enough. Ask nothing further. There is no other pearl to be found in the dark folds of life,” defines Victor Hugo.
Once upon a time, a little boy went to his teacher and told her that he did not know how to love God. He said: “How can I love God when I’ve never seen him?” Then the teacher told him to start loving a stone intensely, intimately without any shades of selfishness and move on further to a flower, a little dog, the mountain, the sky, and a person, then he’ll be ready to love God.”
Barrenness is looked down upon by many cultures including the Near East. But God promises fertility to God’s people who are returning from exile and slavery. God’s immeasurable love never reduced even today.
We reflect on the display of unconditional and spousal love for the people of Israel by God and for John the Baptist by Jesus. God assures the people of Israel of God’s unwavering love and incomparable intimacy.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love, therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you” (Jer. 31:3). We read in Isaiah: “Can a woman forget her suckling child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you” (Is 49:15). “For the mountains may depart … my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed” (Is 54:10). Again, in Hosea, we hear: “I will heal their faithlessness, I will love them freely” (Hos. 14:5).
The people of Israel hesitated to believe and accept God’s immense offer of love.
The Gospel of Mercy brings out the depth of Jesus’ love for John the Baptist. He was so impressed by the Baptiser. Jesus goes out of His way to praise, defend, and affirms him as prophet par excellence. However great he might be, still greater we can be if we prepare to accept God’s love.
The more we prepare our hearts and homes, the we who are the least can experience the enormous love of God as we live the values of the Kingdom of God.
Are we ready to enlarge our hearts to love?
Lord, give us the heart to share with others what we have experienced in your love. May God bless you.