The Greatest Love!!

"You are mine."^A

"I’ll be with you." ^B

"I’ll give up whole nations for you, because you are precious to me and because I love you."^C

"Nothing can separate you from my love."^D

Valentine’s day just got over and you must be thinking that I’ve picked up these words from some love letter or some romantic movie or some poem. Don’t be surprised if I tell you that these words are from the Bible. Who says these words? Almighty God! And to whom does He say this? To you and me!!

In my last post I wrote about love being the greatest thing. And through this one, I wanted to share with you what is the GREATEST LOVE!

Ever since I came to know God in a deeper way, I realized that for Him it’s all about Love!

God created us out of free and unselfish love.^E It was He who formed our inmost part and knit us together in our mother’s womb.^F He says, “Even if a mother should forget her child, I will never forget you. I have written your name on the palm of my hands.^G Out of love, He gave us freedom and free will. He said, “Today I’m giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death.”^H And out of love He asked us to choose life, that we may live loving Him, listening to His voice, being one with Him.^I But we made our own choices. All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going our own way.^J But still God said, “I’ve loved you with an everlasting love.”^K “Though the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love will not depart from you.”^L In spite of that, we didn’t realize His love for us. He sent prophets who spoke on His behalf; He worked miracles to help us realize how much He loved us, but we never paid attention. We had eyes, but we didn’t see; we had ears but didn’t hear.^M However, God didn’t stop. He gave us the biggest gift.

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but may have eternal life.^N And this Son, Jesus Christ, was born among us humans, lived a life like that of a mere mortal, went from village to village, town to town, performing miracles, preaching and practicing God’s love; asking us to love one another.^O He said, “I love you just as the Father loves me, remain in my love.”^P And then, He told, what THE GREATEST LOVE is. “THE GREATEST LOVE a person can have for his friends, is to give his life for them. And you are my friends.”^Q He being God, didn’t refer to us as mortals or slaves or followers or devotees. He called us friends! And for His friends, He laid down His life. He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die, and no one cared about his fate. He was put to death for the sins of people. He was placed in a grave with evil men, even though he had never committed a crime or ever told a lie.^R

But His love for us was so great, that death couldn’t stop Him, the grave couldn’t hold Him. The third day He rose up from the dead and He promised us that His love will never leave us. He said, “I am with you always until the end of this world.”^S And He is faithful to His promises.T 

As I write this, it’s not that I had realized and reciprocated God’s love since I was born. From the time I remember, I grew up asking a question, “Why me??” I had a troubled childhood, raised up in a broken family. As I grew up I was haunted by loneliness, suffered from lack of self esteem, self respect, self confidence.  Church and God seemed irrelevant to me, distant from my life. I soon graduated to addictions, leading a filthy life, becoming selfish, pessimistic, self centred. Though from outside I was happy, free and content; I was hollow within. I used to go to church now and then, but in reality I was running away from God. However, I couldn’t go far. Almost ten years ago, God caught up with me. He started speaking to me, helping me understand His immense love for me, and showing how even in my darkest hours He was with me, standing by my side showering His love for me. I realized that someone loved me so much that He even died for me on the cross.  I realized and experienced what GREATEST LOVE is. Today, I know that no matter what happens, God loves me as a loving Father and His love is the source of my joy, peace and strength.

This day, lets pray that we may understand how broad and long, how high and deep is the love of Christ that surpasses all knowledge.^U May we experience His love which is with us every moment of our life.

God Bless!

Please find the references to the quotes in bold.

A. Isaiah 43:1, B. Exodus 3:12. C. Isaiah 43:4. D. Romans 8:38, E. Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church – 1 and CCC 1-3, F. Psalm 139:13, G. Isaiah 49:15&16, H. Deuteronomy 30:15, I. Deuteronomy 30: 19&20, J. Isaiah 53:6, K. Jeremiah 31:3, L. Isaiah 54:10, M. Ezekiel 12:2, N. John 3:16, O. John15:17, P. John 15:9, Q. John 15:13, R. Isaiah 53:8&9, S. Matthew 28:20, T. Psalm 145:13, U. Ephesians 3:18,19

Sign of Contradiction

A couple of months back, KFC opened its first outlet in Vijayawada, right opposite to my office. Great news! I actually came to know about it even months before it opened. How? I was just walking in front of the building under renovation and saw Colonel Sanders framed picture hidden in a corner. One look at it and I knew what was coming. In any ordinary day we come across so many signs, symbols, logos which say it all – bitten apple, leaping panther, golden arches, Colonel Sanders, the tick mark etc, etc ,etc. They all stand for something. A look at them and we associate in an instant what they stand for. One of the most common sign that I come across is the Cross.  Do you know what it stood for? It stood for death by crucifixion – the most painful and also the most shameful death. It was a sign of death, of torture, of pain, of agony, of humiliation, of abandonment. But Jesus forever changed what it stood for. This very sign of shame changed into a sign of sacrifice, of obedience, of redemption, of courage, of forgiveness, of peace, of grace, of hope, of love. 

Everything that Jesus did was in contradiction to the normal practices, social settings, religious rituals, human logic. When He was an infant Simeon prophesised about Jesus saying, "He shall stand as a Sign of Contradiction." (Luke:2:34) And He did. Christ has been a Sign of Contradiction throughout.

When any king would have been born in a palace, Jesus - the King of Kings was born in a dirty manger;

When others would have chosen the most luxurious houses to stay, he didn’t have any place of his own;

When others taught eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth, He taught “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44);

When others would shun outcasts, He accepted them; when others stayed away from lepers, He touched them, hugged them, healed them;

When others didn’t want to be associated with tax collectors, prostitutes, sinners, He spent time with them, walked with them, helped them, forgave them and showed them the right path;

When others wanted to stone a sinful woman to death, He stood by her and gave her a new life;

When others would select the most qualified people to be their followers, He called the outcasts, the illiterates, the powerless to be His first twelve disciples;

When others would command their disciples to respect them, He washed their feet;

When others looked for power, riches, wealth, He said “Seek first the kingdom of God and everything else shall be given to you.” (Matthew 6:33);

When others would hold grudge against others and would not forgive even once, He said forgive seven time seventy;

When others would become furious if they are accused for anybody else’s slightest mistakes, He, who committed no sin, took upon Himself the sins and wrongdoings of everyone who ever lived or will live on earth;

When others would want their desires, wishes, will to be done, He said “Father, not mine, but let your will be done.”(Matthew  26:39) ;

When others would curse those who hurt them even in the slightest possible manner, He prayed for forgiveness for those who tortured Him, chastised Him, killed Him;

When others, in order to be victorious, would want to kill their enemies and defeat them, He became victorious by sacrificing Himself and facing the most painful death;

When others would die and perish, He rose up the third day and said “I will be with you always, till the end of ages.” (Matthew 28:20);

When others would talk about love, He showed what true love is.

He truly was a sign of contradiction. In my life also, He stood as a sign of contradiction. He still does. When I was running away from Him, He came all the more closer to me; When I felt all alone, He was there with me; When I kept on hurting Him through my sinful life, He forgave and hugged me; When I was drowning deep in addictions, He lifted me up; When I denied His love, He loved me more and more; When I was leading a wretched, meaningless, miserable life, He came and changed my life for the good; When I was afraid to open my mouth in front of a few people, He made me speak in front of hundreds; When I had no one besides me, He stood by me every second of my life and He still does; When I’m surrounded by troubles and worries, He gives me courage; When things go wrong and I’m restless, He fills my heart with a peace that is beyond my understanding,  When I’m filled with anxiety and tension, He puts a smile on my face; When I think that nothing is going the right way, He says, “Don’t worry it will all be fine.”; When I forget Him, go away from Him, He still remembers me and brings me ever close to Him; When I lead an ordinary life, He inspires me to lead a meaningful one and asks me to be a sign of contradiction.

Lets know this Sign of Contradiction personally and lets, through our lives, try to be a sign of contradiction.

“Let no one reproach you, because you are young. Be a model ... in the way you speak, act, in your love, your faith and purity of life.” (1Timothy4:12)

God Bless!

All for Love!!

All for love, He created us in His image and likeness

All for love, He carved our names on the palm of His right hand

All for love, He knit our body parts together in our mother’s womb

All for love, He called us even before we were born

All for love, He gave us the freedom to choose

All for love, He let us do what we want

All for love, He wept seeing us go away

All for love, He tried to bring us back to Him, tried over and over again

All for love, the farther we went, the closer He came

All for love, He said, “Even if your mother forgets you, I shall not forget you.”

All for love, He said, “The mountains may depart and the Hills be removed but my love shall not depart from you.”

All for love, He came to find us, who were lost

All for love, He became man

All for love, He was born in a dirty, cold manger amongst the least important

All for love, the creator lived with the created, the poor and unwanted

All for love, He who makes all the laws of the universe, grew up obeying humans

All for love, He fasted for forty days and nights

All for love, He preached repentance, forgiveness and love

All for love, He chose twelve ordinary men to be his disciples

All for love, He walked with sinners, ate with outcasts, touched the untouchables

All for love, He cured the sick, the dumb, the lame, the blind

All for love, He raised the dead

All for love, He wept for our sins and our unfaithfulness

All for love, He gave us His Body and Blood

All for love, He who is Almighty, washed the dirty feet of his disciples

All for love, He prayed for all of us

All for love, He sweat blood

All for love, He was betrayed by His closest friends

All for love, He took the insults, the allegations, the humiliation without saying a word

All for love, He was chained and put through the shame of public trial

All for love, He was chastised and whipped so that we could be healed

All for love, He was mocked and hurt, He was spat at and punched

All for love, He carried the heavy cross on His shoulders

All for love, He was stripped, lashed, pierced, crucified amongst sinners

All for love, He hung on the cross, abandoned by everyone

All for love, He prayed for the forgiveness for each one of us

All for love, He who had no sins took the sin of the whole world upon Himself

All for love, He bled every drop of blood, He died the most painful death

All for love, He lay in somebody else’s tomb

All for love, death couldn’t stop Him, the tomb couldn’t hold Him

All for love, He rose from the dead the third day

All for love, He rose in all His glory and majesty

All for love, He met His disciples, gave them courage and faith which they had lost

All for love, He gave them hope, which was shattered

All for love, He gave them peace, which the world couldn’t give

All for love, He gave them joy which they couldn’t contain

All for love, He gave them a new life

All for love, He promised “I will be with you till the end of the ages.”

All for love, for you and me.

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friend. And you are my friends.” – Jesus (John 15:13)

God Bless!