Does God Love ME?

Does God love me? UNDOUBTEDLY! Does God’s love make me a better person? YES! What does God’s love require of me? TO LOVE GOD, MYSELF AND OTHERS!

The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday this week. I suggest that we consider the above questions and responses as central for our spiritual reflections and for practical application during Lent this year. We may utilize fasting, prayer, spiritual and corporal sacrifices, works of charity, and other disciplines in order to facilitate a rich and growth-filled Lent. But, the goal needs to be oriented toward the truths stated above – we are loved, we have potential for greatness because of that love, and we are responsible for loving self and others.

Jesus commands us to repent and recognize that the Kingdom of God is near. On a daily basis we are to execute these commands. By repenting for our sins, we can begin to apply the grace of God’s love to those areas of our lives when, where and with whom we fail to love. By recognizing that loving others is necessary in the Kingdom of God, we will see how we need to rise above jealousy, envy, prejudice, narrow-mindedness, condemnation of others, racism, gossip, etc.

In the Kingdom of God, where God’s rule is recognized, our equality as human beings is clear. We celebrate difference and recognize the richness of others and their personal and collective history, culture, customs, language, food, philosophies, etc. We begin with other Catholics and Christians, but we do not stop there. We seek to demonstrate the love of God to all people of Good Will.

Without doubt we will encounter those who are trapped by evil, selfishness, self-doubt, violence, and other characteristics that act as obstacles. We will also encounter others who are deeply damaged by abuse, addiction, torture, hunger, thirst, poverty, and bad habits. The questions that remain for them as for us: Does God love us? Does God’s love make us better persons? Does God’s love require us to love the other? YES, to all three questions! For this reason we NEVER stop trying to liberate ourselves from evil, and live in God’s Kingdom.

In the actual world in which we live, in the nation of the United States, in the center of Brown County, as members of the Catholic Church here at St. Willebrord Parish, we want to tell the world that GOD LOVES US ALL! May the season of Lent be a season of loving God, self, and others even better than we have in the past.

Peace, Fr. Andy