Word to the Wise
Thursday, October 29, 2009 - Thursday in the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
[Romans 8:31-39 and Luke 13:31-35]For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of Gode in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The first scripture for today, from the Letter to the Romans, begins with the words: If God is for us, who can be against us! and ends with the words quoted above. St. Paul is clearly convinced that God's love is the most powerful force in the universe! The proof of that in Paul's eyes is that God did not intervene to prevent Jesus from offering his life for our sakes. As the Gospel of John puts it: God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son. Unfortunately, there have been currents of teaching in Christian spirituality, such as Jansenism (condemned by the Church) which give such an emphasis to sinfulness that no human person dares to think they might be "worthy" of God's love. This was so prevalent at one time that the faithful would receive communion only once or twice a year, or only when in danger of death! It is not unusual for me to encounter a person in the Sacrament of Reconciliation who is convinced that his or her sins are so awful that not even God can forgive them! St. Paul's words should be a tremendous consolation. God does indeed love all persons and is ready to forgive all failings. The challenge is in opening our hearts and minds to that love. We discover here just how powerful we humans can be - we have the power to reject God's love!! We equally have the power to accept it!! AMEN