Called to Love
So faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
I Corinthians 13:1
Wednesday, August 12
(Love) believes all things.
I Corinthians 13:7
If we believe in God, and we believe that God is love, then we believe in God and God’s love through the various trials that life brings. To believe when things are good requires little faith. Where faith comes in is believing when circumstances are difficult, painful and uncertain.
Before we get to big complications, let’s look at small irritations. Everyone has had a day where a bunch of things go wrong at the start. For instance, you go to work and there is a strange smell in the office like something is burning but you can’t locate it; and then you turn the computer on and it has updated and you can’t find critical emails; and you want to just throw your hands up in the air. (This is how my day started today actually). Love is what allows us to still smile because even though there is inconvenience, we believe that God is still good, and that God has called us to love even in circumstances that are less than ideal.
Love holds onto the idea of faith and acts according to the tenets of the Christian faith even when one is tired, or frustrated, or scared. Several reflections ago, three questions were posed for us to reflect on, especially in the difficult moments of life. They are:
- Do you believe in God?
- Do you believe in the goodness of God?
- Do you believe that God is good to you?
If a person can answer these three questions with a “yes” in all circumstances, that is faith.
Regarding question number one, I can safely say that I never waver in answering this with a “yes.” Looking back on my entire life, I don’t think I’ve ever had a moment when I doubted the existence of God. For those looking for proof of God, look no farther than the sky above us. No one could create the expanse of heaven and earth, and even if there is some kind of an evolutionary process (think of canyons carved by glaciers), there still has to be something to begin that process, and that is God. Along with our belief in God, as Creator, as Christians there must be belief in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, sent into the world to redeem it from sin.
Together with the question “do you believe in God?” would be two sub-questions—Do believe that Jesus Christ came to redeem the world? And do you believe that you need redemption? These are critical questions. If Jesus Christ did not come to redeem the world, then for what purpose did He come? Jesus is an historical figure, a teacher, a healer. History validates this. Redemption is possible through the Cross and subsequent Resurrection. Do say that one believes Christ came to redeem the world is to believe in the Resurrection of Christ from the dead, and the possibility of redemption (and thus resurrection) for everyone. Answering that we need redemption is what motivates us to participate in the life of the Church, because it is through faith, aided by sacraments, teachings, community and service that lead to our salvation.
Do you believe in the goodness of God? This question is challenging to answer “yes” to at times, especially as we see suffering around us. We might question the goodness of God when a young person is very sick, or a tragedy befalls good people. But until we feel pain in a personal way, it is fairly easy to understand how the answer to this question can be a “yes” most of the time.
Do you believe God is good to you? This question is more challenging because it is personal. When a personal setback of great magnitude befalls us—loss of health, loss of job, death of a loved one, etc.—it is very challenging to answer this question with a confident “yes.” It is understandable when our confidence waivers regarding this question.
Going back to where we started, faith is built by answering this question in the affirmative with the small setbacks. I have small irritations today, but God is still good to me. To practice this on a daily basis will aid when the setback is big, to still be able to say that God is good to me. Daily gratitude expressed in prayer is also critical in this regard.
Love for God is what allows us to believe that God is real, that God is good, and that God is good to us through all things that may come our way.
Lord, thank You for the gift of this day. Virtually no day has no challenges. Thus, in the challenges I will face today, whether they be small annoyances or big obstacles, help me to believe in You, in Your goodness and in Your goodness towards me. Strengthen my faith so that I can confidently love You and believe in You in all things. Amen.
Love believes all things. Love allows us to believe through all things, the good things and the challenging things.
