God’s Love for Us

11-02-2016Weekly ReflectionFr. Chad King

If you were at one of the Masses that I celebrated last week, you'll recall that I encouraged you to reflect on our first reading from the Book of Wisdom because, not only is it inspiring in itself, but it is also foundational for our Christian life. If we really understood this truth in the depth of our hearts, then it would change how we act and live our lives. If you did not reflect on it yet, here is the first reading from last Sunday as well as words from our Lord to St. Catherine of Siena which speak about the same truth of who God is and who we are (and meant to be). Additionally, in case you forgot, my homilies are also on our website.

Reading 1: Wisdom 11:22-12:2

Before the LORD the whole universe is as a grain from a balance
or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.
But you have mercy on all, because you can do all things;
and you overlook people's sins that they may repent.
For you love all things that are
and loathe nothing that you have made;
for what you hated, you would not have fashioned.
And how could a thing remain, unless you willed it;
or be preserved, had it not been called forth by you?
But you spare all things, because they are yours,
O LORD and lover of souls,
for your imperishable spirit is in all things!
Therefore you rebuke offenders little by little,
warn them and remind them of the sins they are committing,
that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in you, O LORD!

From a dialogue on Divine Providence by Saint Catherine of Siena, virgin

With a look of mercy that revealed his indescribable kindness, God the Father spoke to Catherine:

Beloved daughter, everything I give to man comes from the love and care I have for him. I desire to show my mercy to the whole world and my protective love to all those who want it.

But in his ignorance man treats himself very cruelly. My care is constant, but he turns my life-giving gis into a source of death. Yes, I created him with loving care and formed him in my image and likeness. I pondered, and I was moved by the beauty of my creation.

I gave him a memory to recall my goodness, for I wanted him to share in my own power. I gave him an intellect to know and understand my will through the wisdom of my Son, for I am the giver of every good gi and I love him with a father's constant love. Through the Holy Spirit I gave him a will to lovewhat he would come to know with his intellect.

In my loving care I did all this, so that he could know me and perceive my goodness and rejoice to see me forever. But as I have recounted elsewhere, heaven had been closed off because of Adam's disobedience.Immediately after his sin all manner of evil made its advance throughout the world.

So that I might commute the death consequent upon this disobedience, I attended to you with loving care—out of provident concern I handed over my only-begotten Son to make satisfaction for your needs. I demanded supreme obedience from him so that the human race might be freed of the poison which had infected the entire earth because of Adam's disobedience. With eager love he submitted to a shameful death on the cross and by that death he gave you life, not merely human but divine.