It does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right.
I Corinthians 13:6
Saint Paul’s “treatise on love” in I Corinthians is so loaded with meaning, it is worth the time we are spending to reflect on it, even reflecting on the same verse twice, as we are doing with the last reflection and this one. In the last reflection, we talked about our own sense of optimism or pessimism. If we are called to love, and love does not rejoice in the wrong but rejoices in the right, this means that we are called to be optimistic people, to see the glass half-full and not half-empty.
Today we examine the question, “Is God an optimist or a pessimist?” Various theologians have answered this question differently, even in the Orthodox world. Some Christian denominations preach “hellfire and brimstone.” This speaks to a vengeful God who will delight in exacting punishment from unrepentant sinners.
We believe that Christ is a “merciful judge.” He is our judge. Not everyone will be judged worthy to enter into the Kingdom of heaven. The Bible is very clear on this. Jesus is very clear on this in His teachings.
However, Jesus is also merciful. There are many more examples of His mercy than His judgment. Jesus saw the good in Zacchaeus, a lowlife tax collector, when He called Zacchaeus down from a tree and said that He wanted to spend the day with him. (Luke 19:1-10) A woman caught in adultery was about to be stoned, which was the due reward for her sin. Jesus told those who had gathered, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7) He saw the potential in her that no one else could see. He told her simply, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and do not sin again.” (John 8:11) He heard the prayer of a repentant tax collector rather than a boasting Pharisee. (Luke 18:9-14). The Parable of the Prodigal Son shows an exaggeration of optimism, as a father forgave a son who took half of his property and wasted it. (Luke 15:11-32) The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant illustrates God’s capacity to forgive an infinite amount of debt and exhorts us to be able to overlook the small shortcomings (Matthew 18:23-35) Jesus received a thief on the cross in a last-minute confession. He didn’t take away the keys to the Kingdom from Peter, even after Peter’s denial. He didn’t give up on St. Paul even though he had persecuted and killed Christians. This is why the Bible is a book of hope, and why we can say that our Lord is an optimist. And this is why we are also called to be optimists. God sees the glass half full with us. We are to see it that way with each other. We are also to see it that way as pertains to ourselves. Many people suffer from low self-confidence. God believes in us. God wants us to believe in ourselves, not to the point of arrogance, but to the point of self-confidence.
God wants us to inherit His Kingdom. There are certain parameters He expects from us—faith and works, to love God, and to love our neighbor—but He is very clear about what the expectations are and He wants us to be able to meet those. And He is willing to forgive us when we don’t meet them. That doesn’t mean we are not to try, but there is room to try and fail, because in failure there is an opportunity for repentance, and in repentance, we will always find forgiveness from God. God sees our glass not only as half full, but as overflowing with possibility. Any moment is a moment we can praise God, glorify God, or turn to God in repentance.
As we will state multiple times in this series, love is a choice. It is a choice to see good in others, to look at others in an optimistic light or in a pessimistic one. It is a choice to see the glass as half full or half empty. God has made His choice about us. It is up to us to choose to see the good in one another, in ourselves, and in God.
Many people think that love is a feeling. However, it is actually a choice. Feelings are things we often can’t choose. If you fall down and get hurt, it is not a choice to not feel pain. If you’ve been awake for twenty-four hours, it is not a choice to feel tired. If you haven’t eaten for a day, it is not a choice to feel hungry. Our bodies are built in a way that they feel needs we cannot control. One can choose to love even when he is hurt, tired or hungry. Or sad. Or stressed. Or any of the other feelings associated with pain.
We can choose to love God even when we are disappointed in Him. Because He always chooses to love us, even when we disappoint Him.
Lord, thank You for the gift of this day and all the possibilities that it brings. Help me to choose love today, regardless of how I feel, regardless of how others make me feel. May I work to choose love by honoring You in all that I do. Thank You for loving me even when I don’t express love for You. Thank You for believing in me even when I don’t believe in myself. May I love others in the way that You love me, with infinite optimism and infinite mercy. Amen.
Choose love today! Choose to see the good in people and in possibilities!
