Unconditional Love




"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ... (Ephesians 2:4-5).

St. Paul helps us to see God's love for us in a new way. He explains that God loved us when we were sinners and through His mercy made us alive. In other words, God did not wait for us to become better or free from sin before He could love us. God loves us despite our imperfections. This model of love is called unconditional love. When we understand the nature of that Devine love we grow spiritually just as a child develops a secure attachment style when he/she experiences unconditional love from their parents. Through His love, God separates us from our sin. We are no longer identified with our sinful nature but we are called to share His Devine nature (2 Peter 1:3-5). 

I try to practice this model of love in my parenting style. I try to separate my children's bad behavior from their sense of identity. For example, I confront my child who has hurt their siblings with the following words: "you are a great child, but the words you used to address your brother/sister is not acceptable. That behavior will not be tolerated". My attempts are not perfect by any means because I am only a human.

God on the other hand, who is the ultimate source of love, encounters us in our sinful state, gives atonement to our transgressions and helps us to transform our lives. This is exactly what happens in John chapter 8. Pharisees bring to Jesus a woman caught in adultery to see if Jesus will encourage them to stone her the way the Law instructed them. Jesus says to them: "Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her". The story then goes like this: "When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him.  Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”  She said, “No one, sir.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again".

"Do not sin again", the metanoia, the spiritual growth then is the fruit of that encounter with God and the experience of His ultimate love.

Yours,
Fr. Nareg

Read the Word of God. Today's readings are: Ephesians 2:4-22; Luke 8:40-48


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