Wednesday, Second Week of Easter
[Scripture Readings: Acts 5:17-26; Jn 3:16-21 ]
“God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but have eternal life.”
That is whole gospel in a nutshell. It begins with God, like our existence, and like all of our thoughts, words, and deeds. They begin with God, and are sustained by God, for without God we can do nothing good. That is why hell is so terrible. Without God those in hell no longer have any good thoughts, words or deeds. They have lost God and love forever.
To save us from hell God loved the world. When Moses asked God his name, God said, “I Am the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,… forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin …” So, God's name is Love.
God loved the world, the fallen world, the wicked world, the rebellious world, so much that he gave his only Son. The crucifixion of Jesus reveals how bad sin is: it crucifies Love. It also reveals how good God is: while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Love cannot hate the sinner, even when the sinner crucifies Love.
Adam and Eve crucified Love by their sin of disbelief. They refused to believe God. They believed Satan instead, and crucified Jesus. But everyone who believes the Word of God renounces Satan and will not perish, but has eternal life, the freedom to love forever.
Let us now embrace crucified Love in this Thanksgiving for God's mercy and forgiveness.