OF LOVE AND APPROVAL
On
the feast of the Triumph of the Cross, the Gospel calls our attention
on the unconditional love of God. This so reassuring. The Cross
proclaims to us that we are loved. But the unconditional love of God
does not mean unconditional approval of God. Let this sink in for a
moment. It is easy to confuse the love of God with the approval of God.
Parents know this. They love their children unconditionally. There is
nothing that a child can do that will make a parent love the child any
less. But no responsible parent, even as they love their children, will
approve of their children when they are clearly in the wrong.
Today, we have many well-meaning people who are convinced of the
unconditional love of God but confuse this with unconditional approval.
In the name of a misguided compassion, humility and tolerance, we end up
condoning any and all kinds of actions and ideologies. In the name of a
misguided notion of freedom and free will, we end up rejecting any and
all kinds of interventions from legitimate authority saying, “Who are
you to impose your morality on me?”
If I visit my physician and he gives me a list of prohibitions to
maintain my health, do I say, “How dare you impose your morality on me?”
No. I accept the “imposition” for the sake of my physical well-being.
Why should it be different for our spiritual well-being?
The call of the moral life is not about justifying and making oneself
worthy of God’s love and His Kingdom. Lest we forget, there is nothing
we can do that can give us a rightful claim to God’s love and His
kingdom. When all is said and done, it is still sheer grace. The moral
life and following the commandments is not about justifying and making
oneself worthy of God’s love and His Kingdom. The moral life is love’s
response to Love, and making oneself less unworthy of God’s love and His
Kingdom. Fr. Joel Jason
REFLECTION QUESTION: When you see the Cross, do you see it as a summons to live rightly, in friendship with God?
We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You. For by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world. Amen.
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