2nd Sunday of Ordinary Time: God's Love Story

Megan Vareha
Jan 15, 2018
3 min read

Today's Readings: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/011418.cfm

1 Samuel 3: 3-10, 19

Psalm 40

1 Corinthians 6:13-20

John 1: 35-42

The message from today's mass was strikingly powerful, invigorating in the most sensational way possible. Today, we heard of none other than the goodness of God through His story of love.

One of the most fundamental gifts we have from God is our very bodies. "Vessels" (as I like to call them) fashioned in the image and likeness of our perfect Creator. Our bodies were made as "temples for the Holy Spirit that dwells within [us]," as we heard in our second reading from St. Paul. I absolutely love this verse, because it affirms the presence of the Almighty Himself within our very beings....it's the most beautiful sign of love we could ever receive!

Since our vessels hold none other than the Lord of Hosts, we cannot help but delight, and truly delight in those things God wills for us to accomplish, an idea originating from today's Psalm. Indeed, we have a natural tendency to desire true happiness and righteous deeds; while we may be ignorant in our decision making through choosing to do only what we think is satisfying, however, a part of our hearts knows for certain just what God would have us do. In this way, we entirely belong to God, for St. Paul speaks a most profound truth: "you are not your own" (1 Corinthians 6:19). Isn't that amazing?! And (not to mention) counter-cultural?! Truly, we are not on this Earth for our benefit, but only for that of the Father.

And though we are servants of God, striving to attend to His will in all situations, we are dignified by the purchase made by His very own Son....we were "purchased at a price" (1 Corinthians 6:20). How incomprehensible that WE---lowly creatures of the Earth---would be adopted as children of God, freed from the slavery of sin and death itself, by the mightiest Being in all the universe!

I'd like to share a story:

Imagine that you are enslaved in the darkest, coldest, most frightening prison in all the world. There is no escape, nowhere to turn. Your ankles, wrists, and neck are bound by shackles, and you weep, terrified of your fate of death. You find no hope, and all you feel is the surrounding darkness circling about in growing strength.

And then, a small light approaches, and you are expelled from the prison of darkness ever so swiftly. You are shocked....everything has changed. You no longer feel the ache of the shackle rims around you, and you feel as if the weight of sin itself has vanished from your premise.

But suddenly, you realize the true source of this freedom as you peer into the cell in which you had suffered; you see a man, mangled, bloodied, soiled, and broken beyond belief. This man is dead. And you realize the weight of this escape, the significance of this gruesome trade, and are overcome with sorrow from this man's sacrifice. Somehow, however, you feel a sense of peace, supported by a flood of gratitude, because you know that this man was intentional in his actions, willing and dedicated in the highest degree....to free you.

That, my brothers and sisters, is God's love story.

God has amazing plans for us, plans filled with oceans of possibility for growth and discovery, plans to cultivate fruitful friendship and deep love. He instills in us a passion to fulfill all He has destined for us, inviting us to imitate the enthusiasm of John the Baptist in his mission to proclaim the coming of the Messiah. But God also knows we can't fully engage in this work if we drag around a weight of sin at our feet. That's why he openly and joyfully frees us...because being free is the only way to draw closer to Him.

As you turn to solemnly depart from the dark gates, you find yourself face to face with the same man who was bloodied and lifeless on the floor just before. Now, he is radiating, fresh with white garments, gentle, inviting, and joyful beyond comprehension. He extends his hand towards you, and you know that you and he can now be free, together....from now through all eternity.