How would you react if I told you that God was obsessed? Would this statement disturb you? While we might not normally describe God in that way, it certainly reflects God’s feelings towards us. Ever since humanity chose to separate ourselves from God, in what we refer to as ‘the Fall,’ God has been obsessively pursuing our salvation. In fact the entire history of humanity can truly be called salvation history.

First, God the Father reached out in relationship to the ancient Israelites, staying true to relationship with them even when they chose to break the relationship. Then Jesus Christ, the Son, came to earth to show us the way to salvation. As John underscores in today’s Gospel, Jesus came into the world not to condemn the world, but that we might be saved through Him. He was willing to die for us so that we might be saved. Finally, after Jesus ascended to the Father, the Holy Spirit was sent to be with us always, as an advocate for all of us.

Salvation history shows us that God, in the three persons of the Most Holy Trinity, has ordered this entire relationship toward our salvation. God consistently takes the ‘first step’ toward us. Are we willing to accept his obsessive attempts and His love? Are we willing to respond in kind?

Living the Word - A Reflection from the OLP Weekly Bulletin
by Deacon Dave Camous