The divine and human relation is characterized primarily by holy love, and coupled with wonder. God’s love is the wellspring of our capacity to love. We were created in the image of God, and therefore, our capacity to love arises out of this likeness. The Bible clearly articulates that God not only loves but is love: “God is love and the one who abides in love abides in God and God in that person” (1 John 4:8). As followers of God, we are holy when we are steeped in love, not only for God but also for fellow humans and creation.
To love is to be holy, to participate in God, and to be the presence of God in the world. But we cannot love people in our own strength. The capacity to love all people, as God does, “is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom God has given us “(Rom. 5:5).
The more our openness to God, the greater is our ability to be loving and compassionate in the world. Our compassion for another becomes our identification tag as disciples of Christ. This outward flowing and unbounded love is part of holiness and participation in God.
Love for one’s fellow humans is inextricably bound with our love for God. This dynamic nature of love is enshrined in the foundational love commandments taught by Jesus: You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind. And you must love your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10:27).
Our love for God must be total, encompassing heart, soul, strength and mind. This love must be extended to other humans and all of God’s creation; not reserved for our favourite few. Let us open our hearts to receive God’s love, and share the love with others through word and deed.