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FAITH IN THE HUMAN BEING
"We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' yet hates his brother, he is a liar." (1 Jn 4:19-20)
Our human (self-)loathing is a kind of denial of God’s undying love for us and faith in us. It’s a sign that on some level we don’t believe in the God in Whom St. John the Evangelist believes, Who, through us sent His Son into our world. As St. John says in this same chapter, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world…”
Christianity proclaims a radical faith in humanity; God’s undying faith in humanity, which is more honorable and honored than the Cherubim, and more glorious and glorified beyond compare than the Seraphim. We are also entrusted with God’s revelation of Himself to us; with receiving it and passing it on, from generation to generation, based on human testimony and language, and other messy and fallible human capacities.
May I believe in us today, and embrace the hope, love and patience with ustoday, that God unchangeably has and extends to each of us daily. I can do that, by opening up to Him in prayer, and letting His divine energies, His faith and His love for all of us, break into my broken and contrite heart. God is the Lord and has appeared unto us! Let me let that sink in, as we proceed on our journey to Bethlehem, preparing our little gifts for one another, as little testimonies of our love for Him.
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In a time of dehumanization through either ugly rhetoric or violent actions, this is a wonderful "reminder" of the goodness of humanity and of our responsibility as Christians to clarify our vision whenever it becomes obscured by the disparaging nature of sinful words and actions. May Christ strengthen us in that worthy endeavor!
