An encounter of God’s love for us is one of profound solace, a sheer unmerited grace. It is a gaze of God’s unfathomable mercy who stoops and communicates precisely what we most ardently long for - Christ’s eternal friendship and love. From our redeeming communion with Christ we experience what it is to be truly, freely and fully human.
It is good for us to stop and reflect on our relationship with God.
What most accurately describes your relationship with God?
Is it one of duty? Attending of Church, following God, because I feel I have to do it?
Is it based on fear? That if I don’t do what God tells me to, then I will be punished?
Or perhaps you are like many beautiful people that I meet who give of themselves unrestrainedly to others only to feel empty; not just of energy, but somewhat bankrupt spiritually and psychologically in replenishing and befriending love of themselves. Sensitive and generous to others with active hearts for social justice, such people are very mindful of loving God in our neighbour. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength, and all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself (Lk 10:27). Yet how do we love ourselves?
Can we really say that we are both at peace with God and ourselves? This is not merely a moral question, but of practising God’s presence to ourselves i.e. in Unconditional Self-Acceptance.
We generally often fear our very own humanity, that God as a divine and all-complete being would not really want to be in communication and relationship with insignificant and sullied me. Especially if he really knew my actual behaviour! So instead of our relationship with Jesus being based on a living friendship it is often reduced to a morality of rules and sanctions.
Yet God in Christ’s incarnation, passion and resurrection (and the living sacraments of the Church especially Eucharist), ardently longs for relationship with you. How can any of us say that we are insignificant in the eyes of God! Want proof? Look to the crucified Christ!
We need to have an unshakeable confidence in God’s love and mercy for us revealed to us in Jesus. “I glorify You in making known how good You are to sinners, and that Your mercy prevails over all malice, that nothing can destroy it, that no matter how many times or how shamefully we fall, or how criminally, a sinner need not be driven to despair of Your pardon…It is in vain that Your enemy and mine sets new traps for me every day. He will make me lose everything else before the hope I have in Your mercy” St Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682) French Jesuit: Spiritual Director of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690).
St. John Vianney (1786 – 1859) in speaking of mercy said: “God’s greatest pleasure is to pardon us.”
With an attitude of unconditional self-acceptance we need to seek God in a living friendship of love. Among my favourite saints is St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582). One day St. Teresa of Avila was asked to describe prayer. Her response was: “prayer is a conversation between friends.” Thus her whole life and spirituality was based on a living friendship with Jesus. She did as we do with our true friends, pouring her heart out reverently to Jesus and allowing him to love her unconditionally.
St. Teresa of Avila also said:
A person can endure all things provided he or she possesses Christ Jesus dwelling within as his/her friend and affectionate guide. Christ gives us help and strength, never deserts us and is true and sincere in his friendship (St. Teresa of Avila).
With a discipline of daily quiet prayer we too can encounter Christ’s immense love for us in a living friendship with him. Create your own sacred space for daily prayer. You may want to create a sacred environment with candles, icons, and bible in your room. Take time to pray to God.
Believe in his love for you. Jesus loves you profoundly!
Or alternatively there are some prayer guides online. Checkout the following:
https://www.pray-as-you-go.org/