THE ALMIGHTY GREAT GOD IS ALWAYS HAPPY TO SEE HIS CHILDREN LOVING AND CARING FOR ONE ANOTHER

The Almighty Great God is always happy to see his children loving one another. PHOTO /CORRESPONDENT

Let us love one another because God is love.

By Fr. Felix (African Times Guest Writer)

 
A reading from John (4:7-10). At this time the Jews regarded gentiles

as ‘dogs’. This did not mean beloved pets, for dogs were either

frightening guard-dogs or filthy scavengers. The first reading

showed us God actually taking gentiles to himself by sending the

Spirit upon them. The second reading now meditates on the nature

of that love. The old niggardly saying, ‘I love him but I can’t stand

the sight of him’, will not do if God is love itself and love itself is the

nature of God. If God is not only the source of love and of life, but

simply is love itself, even the distant ‘wishing somebody well’ from

my heart is not enough. Would any of us be satisfied and

comfortable with the idea that God doesn’t actually like me but

wishes me well in a distant sort of way? Love generates affection,

respect, trust, a desire to come closer to the other. It is comforting to

know that I am a son of God and can call God ‘Abba’, but the

consequence is more daunting, that you too – whoever you are – are

also the closest member of my family, despite all your faults.