THIS LOVE OF GOD AMAZES ME
Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR
Homily on the 4th Sunday of Lent
Holy Names Catholic Church
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
March 22, 2009
Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR
Homily on the 4th Sunday of Lent
Holy Names Catholic Church
Memphis, Tennessee, USA
March 22, 2009
From the book of Psalm 8: 4 we read “What is man that you O Lord should be mindful of him?” Job in the book of Job 7:17 declares “What is man that you magnify him, and that you are concerned about him?” In Psalm 144: 3, the Psalmist wonders again, “O Lord what is man that you take knowledge of him or the son of man that you think of him?” In today’s gospel reading taken from the John 3:14-21, our Lord says in 3: 16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.”
From generation to generation, people of all nationalities and of all races have posed this position “Why does God love human beings?” Why does he think of us? Why is he so interested in human beings who are far less interested in him? What is this love all about? Considering the vastness of the universe, why does God chain himself to us? Did God chain himself to us because we are lovable and remarkable? No! God wasn’t attracted to us and didn’t choose us because we were remarkable and lovable and important.
Brethren, three reasons can be given as to why God loves us incredibly:
God loves us because we are his creation. In Isaiah 49: 15-16 God queried “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Even if she forgets, I will not forget you.” God loves you because you are his creation. He has engraved you on the palm of his hands. Because you are his creation, he will not let you go. He has handcuffed himself to you in love. And he owns the only key. You need not win his love; you already have it. And since you can’t win it, you can’t loose it.
God loves you because he wants you to know him. Human beings are incomplete without God. Life without God is grounded; life without God is boring; life without Christ is crisis. For us to be able to know him and enter into a relationship with him God sent his Son. Sacred Scripture says that while we were still powerless, Christ died for us the ungodly. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5: 11).
Dearest beloved, God loves us because we need him. The Psalmist in Psalm 42:1 says “As a deer yearns for running stream, so my soul is yearning for you my God.” God loves us because we need him to save us; we need him to rescue us from the crushing burden of the devil. God loves us because he knows we need him to survive.
Brethren, we have all worn out the word “love”. We have used it for different things, and sometimes even misused it. A man wakes up in the morning and says to his wife, “I love you sweetheart”, and the next time he is using that same word while expressing his feelings for another thing: Oh I love this peanut butter! But the emotion or feeling for a wife or a husband, a brother or a sister is different from a feeling for peanut butter. Overuse of the word love seems to have neutralized its meaning.
The bible uses different terms for love. But in this homily, I want to talk about two terms of love: Hasaq and Agapao. Hasaq is love attached to something or someone. It is a secured love. God chains himself to us as if he needs us to exist. But God does not need us to exist, we need him to exist. God loves us not because we are amazingly spotless or righteously perfect. He loves us out of sheer love; he loves us because he chooses to. This is the type of love that won’t let go its object of love.
God’s love is not conditional. It is unconditional love. But for us, our love is condition based. “O I love my car because it serves me well. It is a good car.” “I love that knife because it is sharp”. “I love New Orleans because their food is great.” “I love my dad because he gives me everything I want.” “I love President Barack Obama because he is smart and honest.” “I love Beyonce because she is pretty.” “I love my son because he is obedient and respectful.” But God does not love us because we are marvelous. He chose to love us despite who we are.
Calvin was a teenager when his doctor told him he was going blind. He hurried to complete his studies before he could go blind. After his first degree, he was still able to see. He pursued his post-graduate studies and was able to finish, but his night was approaching. As soon as he finished his Master’s degree program, he went blind. His fiancée Maureen returned his engagement ring saying to him, “There is no way I can marry a man who is blind. Sorry, I cannot see the path of binding myself to you in marriage. We belonged to two different worlds now. I have to move on.” Calvin was broken-hearted. He was so hurt that he refused to marry again. Maureen’s love for Calvin typifies our love for people. But God loves us whether we are junkyard wrecks or showroom models.
In the Scripture, we read of Hosea who remained tied to his unfaithful wife Gomer. Despite the infidelity of Gomer, who was jumping from one bed to another with different men, Hosea continued to love her (This perfectly explains God’s love for us). Hosea’s love for Gomer is the type described in John 3:16. Hasaq is replaced with the Greek term Agape. According to Max Lucado, Agape is less affection, more a decision, less a feeling, more an action. Jesus did not love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. He emptied himself to us and for us!
Brethren, our goodness cannot win God’s love. Our sinfulness cannot lose it either. But we can resist it! God loves us with an unexplainable love. You cannot win it by being winsome; and cannot lose it by being a loser. But we may be blind to resist it. No matter what you have done and said God still loves you. When the most despicable things are done, some people tend to think that they have lost the friendship of God. You cannot lose the love of God. Why? Because God so loved the world. And since God has no needs, we cannot tire him. Since he is ageless, we cannot lose him. Since he has no sin, you cannot corrupt him.
To those who feel left out, abandoned and rejected, remember John 3:16. To those who are lonely and alone, remember John 3:16. To those forgotten in different corners of the world, remember “For God so loved the love.” To those who think that no one loves them, remember John 3:16. To the demoted and demeaned, remember John 3:16 “For God so loved the world.” When you are kicked out as Pluto was bumped out by a Committee of scientists for what they called “not meeting the solar system standard” remember John 3:16. When you are voted out because of worldly standards, remember “For God’s so loved the world.” If you feel excluded, just think of John 3:16. If past life is hunting you, remember John 3: 16. If you are carrying the guilt of the past, thinking that God is mad at you, remember John 3: 16. If you have lost everything including friends, remember John 3:16. This love of God is amazing. He does not love you because of what you have done, and he is not going to un-love you because of what you are doing. He so loved you! To those who are greatly discouraged by what they experience and by what they see, remember John 3:16. It is the numbers of hope. It is the numbers of assurance and confidence. For God so loved you that he did not even spare the life of his only Son. If you are gripped by fear and uncertainty, remember John 3:16. Remember that FEAR is False Evidence About Reality. Instead of facing fear, why not face God? Face God because Jesus said he so loved you. Brethren this love of God for us amazes me, but it is real; it is true!
This love explains why he sent Jesus!
This love explains why Jesus came!
This love explains why Jesus endured so much humiliation and a shameful death!
This love explains why God claims you when others demote you!
This love amazes me, but it is true and real!
From generation to generation, people of all nationalities and of all races have posed this position “Why does God love human beings?” Why does he think of us? Why is he so interested in human beings who are far less interested in him? What is this love all about? Considering the vastness of the universe, why does God chain himself to us? Did God chain himself to us because we are lovable and remarkable? No! God wasn’t attracted to us and didn’t choose us because we were remarkable and lovable and important.
Brethren, three reasons can be given as to why God loves us incredibly:
God loves us because we are his creation. In Isaiah 49: 15-16 God queried “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Even if she forgets, I will not forget you.” God loves you because you are his creation. He has engraved you on the palm of his hands. Because you are his creation, he will not let you go. He has handcuffed himself to you in love. And he owns the only key. You need not win his love; you already have it. And since you can’t win it, you can’t loose it.
God loves you because he wants you to know him. Human beings are incomplete without God. Life without God is grounded; life without God is boring; life without Christ is crisis. For us to be able to know him and enter into a relationship with him God sent his Son. Sacred Scripture says that while we were still powerless, Christ died for us the ungodly. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5: 11).
Dearest beloved, God loves us because we need him. The Psalmist in Psalm 42:1 says “As a deer yearns for running stream, so my soul is yearning for you my God.” God loves us because we need him to save us; we need him to rescue us from the crushing burden of the devil. God loves us because he knows we need him to survive.
Brethren, we have all worn out the word “love”. We have used it for different things, and sometimes even misused it. A man wakes up in the morning and says to his wife, “I love you sweetheart”, and the next time he is using that same word while expressing his feelings for another thing: Oh I love this peanut butter! But the emotion or feeling for a wife or a husband, a brother or a sister is different from a feeling for peanut butter. Overuse of the word love seems to have neutralized its meaning.
The bible uses different terms for love. But in this homily, I want to talk about two terms of love: Hasaq and Agapao. Hasaq is love attached to something or someone. It is a secured love. God chains himself to us as if he needs us to exist. But God does not need us to exist, we need him to exist. God loves us not because we are amazingly spotless or righteously perfect. He loves us out of sheer love; he loves us because he chooses to. This is the type of love that won’t let go its object of love.
God’s love is not conditional. It is unconditional love. But for us, our love is condition based. “O I love my car because it serves me well. It is a good car.” “I love that knife because it is sharp”. “I love New Orleans because their food is great.” “I love my dad because he gives me everything I want.” “I love President Barack Obama because he is smart and honest.” “I love Beyonce because she is pretty.” “I love my son because he is obedient and respectful.” But God does not love us because we are marvelous. He chose to love us despite who we are.
Calvin was a teenager when his doctor told him he was going blind. He hurried to complete his studies before he could go blind. After his first degree, he was still able to see. He pursued his post-graduate studies and was able to finish, but his night was approaching. As soon as he finished his Master’s degree program, he went blind. His fiancée Maureen returned his engagement ring saying to him, “There is no way I can marry a man who is blind. Sorry, I cannot see the path of binding myself to you in marriage. We belonged to two different worlds now. I have to move on.” Calvin was broken-hearted. He was so hurt that he refused to marry again. Maureen’s love for Calvin typifies our love for people. But God loves us whether we are junkyard wrecks or showroom models.
In the Scripture, we read of Hosea who remained tied to his unfaithful wife Gomer. Despite the infidelity of Gomer, who was jumping from one bed to another with different men, Hosea continued to love her (This perfectly explains God’s love for us). Hosea’s love for Gomer is the type described in John 3:16. Hasaq is replaced with the Greek term Agape. According to Max Lucado, Agape is less affection, more a decision, less a feeling, more an action. Jesus did not love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. He emptied himself to us and for us!
Brethren, our goodness cannot win God’s love. Our sinfulness cannot lose it either. But we can resist it! God loves us with an unexplainable love. You cannot win it by being winsome; and cannot lose it by being a loser. But we may be blind to resist it. No matter what you have done and said God still loves you. When the most despicable things are done, some people tend to think that they have lost the friendship of God. You cannot lose the love of God. Why? Because God so loved the world. And since God has no needs, we cannot tire him. Since he is ageless, we cannot lose him. Since he has no sin, you cannot corrupt him.
To those who feel left out, abandoned and rejected, remember John 3:16. To those who are lonely and alone, remember John 3:16. To those forgotten in different corners of the world, remember “For God so loved the love.” To those who think that no one loves them, remember John 3:16. To the demoted and demeaned, remember John 3:16 “For God so loved the world.” When you are kicked out as Pluto was bumped out by a Committee of scientists for what they called “not meeting the solar system standard” remember John 3:16. When you are voted out because of worldly standards, remember “For God’s so loved the world.” If you feel excluded, just think of John 3:16. If past life is hunting you, remember John 3: 16. If you are carrying the guilt of the past, thinking that God is mad at you, remember John 3: 16. If you have lost everything including friends, remember John 3:16. This love of God is amazing. He does not love you because of what you have done, and he is not going to un-love you because of what you are doing. He so loved you! To those who are greatly discouraged by what they experience and by what they see, remember John 3:16. It is the numbers of hope. It is the numbers of assurance and confidence. For God so loved you that he did not even spare the life of his only Son. If you are gripped by fear and uncertainty, remember John 3:16. Remember that FEAR is False Evidence About Reality. Instead of facing fear, why not face God? Face God because Jesus said he so loved you. Brethren this love of God for us amazes me, but it is real; it is true!
This love explains why he sent Jesus!
This love explains why Jesus came!
This love explains why Jesus endured so much humiliation and a shameful death!
This love explains why God claims you when others demote you!
This love amazes me, but it is true and real!
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