GOD'S LOVE
God revealed himself as the one abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness in his works God displays his kindness, his goodness, his steadfast love and his faithfulness.
Thanks to the Prophetess, Israel understood that it was out of love that God never stopped saving them and pardoning their unfaithfulness and sins.
God's love is compared to a father's love for his son. God's love is stronger than a mother's love for her children. God loves his people more than a bridegroom his beloved. God's love will be victorious over even the worst infidelities of his people.
"Thou art our father, and Abraham hath not known us. And Israel hath been ignorant of us, Thou, Lord, are our father, our redeemer, from everlasting is thy name "(Isaias.63,16). "We have all fallen as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away... And now, o Lord, thou art our father, and we are clay: and thou art our maker, and we all are the works of thy hands"(Isaias.64,6.8)
"Can a woman forget her infant, so as not to have pity on the son of her womb? And if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee in my hands"(Isaias.49,15-16)
"For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a moment of indignation have I hid my face a little while from thee, but which everlasting kindness have I had mercy on thee, said the Lord thy Redeemer... The mountains shall be moved, and the hills shall tremble; but my mercy shall not depart from thee, and the covenant of my peace shall not be moved"(Isaias.54,7-8.10).
Let us see now the most precious gift of God's love:
"God so loved the world that He gave his only-begotten Son, that those who believe in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting"(John.3,16).
"God is love. In this has the love of God been shown in our case, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world that we may live through him…God has sent his Son a propitiation for our sins"(John's first letter.4,9-10).
"If God is for us, who is against us? He who has not spared even his own Son, but has delivered him for us all, how can he fail to grant us also all things with him?"(Romans.8,32).
Believing in God's love leads us to turn to him alone, and to live in joyful Thanksgiving.
Fr.Cipriano Bontacchio