God Himself Is Our Answer

Pope St. John Paul II in his encyclical letter, On the Mercy of God, goes to the heart of the Gospel.  “Today I wish to say that openness to Christ, who as the Redeemer of the world fully “reveals man to himself,” can only be achieved through an ever more mature reference to the Father and His love.”  St. John Paul II is telling us that everything in our faith returns to the Father’s love for us.  Each of us needs to daily plant the following thought into our mind, “My heavenly Father loves me.”

If St. John Paul II were alive today during this time of a world pandemic, would he tell us exactly the same message? Yes, because in this time of strong spiritual and temporal need, our faith should be built on the Father’s love for us.  When we feel like despairing, turn to our heavenly Father and ask for His protecting love and His providence that all good fathers wish to give to their children.  Jesus tells us that to see Him is to see His Father. This time of great need is an opportunity to get out any image you have of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and place it where it can be honored. This image captures the dynamic of our relationship with God.

Karl Barth is a theologian who articulates the characteristics of God that are foundational to our faith.  He writes, “God is He who, without having to do so, seeks and creates fellowship between Himself and us.” “Loving us, God does not give us something, but Himself; giving us His only Son, He gives us everything.  The love of God has only to be His love to be everything for us.”  

(Church Dogmatics, Vol. II, Part 1, pages 273,276)

Fr. George Maloney, S.J. writes about this same type of God’s giving.  In his book, God’s Exploding Love, he quotes a passage from the writing of Archbishop Joseph Raya.  “The uncreated energies of God are not ‘things’ which exist outside of God, not ‘gifts’ of God; they are God himself in his action.  They are the very God who is himself Uncreated.  They are therefore called ‘uncreated’ because their cause and origin is the Essence of God.  Fr.  Maloney goes on to write, “In such biblical and patristic vision grace is not primarily a “thing” that God places upon our nature to give us “something” extrinsic in order to perfect our being.  Grace is, first of all, God’s presence as activating love.  His love is always present, permeating us, surrounding us, drawing us in all things by His love into greater oneness with Him.”  (pages 76, 77)  

Fr. Maloney is telling us that when we pray and petition God for help, He does not go to a heavenly workbench and construct something for us.  No, God’s response is to reach inside of Himself and give that which is the perfect answer to our request.  This helps us better understand the statement,  “The Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith.”  God does not give us things, he gives us Himself.  In Psalm 91:14 “Because he clings to me, I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he acknowledges my name.”  A drowning man will cling to the lifeguard that swims out to save him.  Jesus is now swimming out to where you are at.  Call out His name and let Him take hold of you.  You will not drown!  Whatever you need has already been given to you through the infinite sacrifice of our Paschal Lamb. 

Pope Benedict the XVI writes that we should think of heaven not as a place, rather as a person.  Heaven is our eternal home with Jesus.  The joy of Christianity is that we start our life with Jesus at our Baptism.  Every life has a purpose.  Every life has a time to live on this earth.  Look deeply into the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  You will see that Jesus is pointing to His heart.  Can you hear Jesus talking to you,  “This heart is for you.”  The contents of the heart of Jesus are beyond measure.  The words above of Karl Barth and Fr. George Maloney, S.J. are saying that when you get Jesus you get everything you need.  When Jesus offers you His heart, there is no greater gift.  What is your response?

                                —Charlie McGuire—