Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.

These lines from Isaiah immortalized in song, are well-known and loved. They are a needed reminder that our God is not some implacable judge, ready to toss into hell all those who have sinned. Rather, his is a love like that of a nursing mother, full of tenderness for each of his children.

The Lenten season should reinforce this side of our God. Jesus told us shortly before he was crucified that no one has greater love than one willing to give his life for others, for us. Christ came into the world not to condemn but to save us. The astounding thing about this is that we do not have to placate God with huge sacrifices or elaborate rituals. God goes out of his way to reach out to us, love, and draw us to himself.

The Eucharist is a marvelous celebration of this reality. There, in the Eucharistic Prayer, when Jesus takes the bread that he is about to transform into his body, he emphasizes that the eucharistisized bread will be given for us. Likewise with the cup of wine. He tells us that it will be poured out for us so that our sins may be forgiven. Later, we pray that we who share the one bread and one cup might be transformed by the love of Christ so that we can love one another and become one body, one spirit in Christ. No wonder the Mass is called Eucharist: we have so much to be grateful for. Ours is a loving God.

Am I willing to love others the way that God loves me?

Let Us Pray:

O loving Lord, help me to be so transformed by your love that I truly love others as you have loved me.