The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102915.cfm) reminds me that nothing can separate us from God’s love – except ourselves.
There are relationships wherein you constantly strive to please the other person. You act your best, put your best foot forward everytime, and try to be the best version of yourself. Though this is good, sometimes others can find this tiring. You are constantly trying to prove yourself worthy of the other person’s love and do your best not to show anything negative for fear of the other person losing interest in you. However, God is not like this. God’s love is nothing like this. Unlike people whose love and affection we need to get and retain, God’s love is permanent.
Nothing can separate you from God’s love.
In the first reading, we see that nothing can really separate us from God’s love. Anguish, distress, famine, nakedness, peril or the sword will not separate us from God’s love. Nothing. Not death, nor life, nor angels, not principalities, not present or future things, no power, height and depth and no any other creature can separate us from God’s love. Nothing can separate us from His love. No one can separate us from his love. No sin is greater than his love and forgiveness. We cannot do anything that can take his love away from us.
A gift will only be transferred is the one receiving the gift accepts it. No matter how loving and generous the giver is, if the receiver do not want to accept the gift, he will not be able to enjoy it. His love is God’s gift to us, and we will choose if we will receive it or not. We see in the gospel that even if no one and nothing can take God’s love away from us, we have the decision to accept his love or not. We have the decision to remain in his love or not. Jesus told the people of Jerusalem that God tried to send prophets to save them and gather them, but they were unwilling. so God cannot do anything. God will not force himself on us. God will not force us to love him and accept his love.
May we be strengthened to know that nothing and no one can take God’s love away from us, and be aware that it is still our decision to accept him and his love for us.
Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another day to experience your love. Thank you for your great love – so great that nothing and no one can take it away from me. Lord, you know I love you and I want your love. Sorry for the times I do not show it. Sorry for the times I sin and tell you I don’t want it. Help me humble myself before you. Help me choose you and your love instead of choosing my own will. May my life and actions tell you that I love you and that I want to remain in your love – because you know I do. Amen.
Blessed day!
In Christ,
-g-
Ps
See related reflection:
October 29, 2015
Reading 1 Rom 8:31b-39
Brothers and sisters:
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us.
Who will condemn?
It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised,
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
As it is written:
For your sake we are being slain all the day;
we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
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 God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If God is for us, who can be against us?
He did not spare his own Son
but handed him over for us all,
how will he not also give us everything else along with him?
Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?
It is God who acquits us.
Who will condemn?
It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised,
who also is at the right hand of God,
who indeed intercedes for us.
What will separate us from the love of Christ?
Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine,
or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?
As it is written:
For your sake we are being slain all the day;
we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly
through him who loved us.
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 God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Responsorial Psalm PS 109:21-22, 26-27, 30-31
R. (26b) Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
Do you, O GOD, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name’s sake;
in your generous mercy rescue me;
For I am wretched and poor,
and my heart is pierced within me.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
Help me, O LORD, my God;
save me, in your mercy,
And let them know that this is your hand;
that you, O LORD, have done this.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD,
and in the midst of the throng I will praise him,
For he stood at the right hand of the poor man,
to save him from those who would condemn his soul.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Do you, O GOD, my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name’s sake;
in your generous mercy rescue me;
For I am wretched and poor,
and my heart is pierced within me.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
Help me, O LORD, my God;
save me, in your mercy,
And let them know that this is your hand;
that you, O LORD, have done this.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your mercy.
I will speak my thanks earnestly to the LORD,
and in the midst of the throng I will praise him,
For he stood at the right hand of the poor man,
to save him from those who would condemn his soul.
R. Save me, O Lord, in your kindness.
Alleluia See Lk 19:38; 2:14
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.
Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel Lk 13:31-35
Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
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