Our Loving God
The lecture of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks about the great love of God for man, and that the true relationship with God is not a relationship of fear or merely commands, but a deep and continuous relationship of love. His Holiness explains that God approached humanity with love, and removed the barrier between Him and man through incarnation, redemption, and the Cross.
He confirms that the essence of the entire spiritual life is love, because God Himself is Love, and that all commandments, worships, and rituals without love become without true spiritual value. He also explained that Christ asked from man nothing except the heart, saying: “My son, give Me your heart.”
His Holiness focuses on that true love for God appears in keeping the commandments and walking with Him, because whoever loves God abides in Him and God in him. He also clarified that worship without love does not bring man to God nor grant him a true relationship with Him.
The lecture explains that God loved man first, therefore He calls man to exchange this love. And among the greatest images of this love is that God gave His only Son for the salvation of the world, and that the Cross is the complete declaration of God’s love for humanity.
His Holiness also meditates on the mysteries of the Church such as Baptism and the Eucharist, clarifying that these mysteries are a fellowship of love and a true union with God, where man abides in Christ and Christ in him. He explains the meaning of the Scripture saying: “You have put on Christ,” considering it a life of union and deep love with the Lord.
The lecture confirms that God’s love does not change even with the weakness of man and his sins, for God loves everyone, rejoices in the return of the sinner, and seeks him with love and mercy. The love of Christ also appears in His dealings with sinners, the sick, and the weary, and in His tears, prayers, and forgiveness even for those who crucified Him on the Cross.
His Holiness points out that the person who becomes filled with the love of God no longer becomes attached to worldly matters or outward gifts, but seeks God Himself only, and says with David: “With You I desire nothing on earth.” For true love satisfies the heart with God alone.
At the end of the lecture, he explains that Christianity entirely is founded upon love: love of God and love of people, because whoever does not love his brother whom he sees cannot love God whom he does not see. Therefore, the Christian life is a life of mutual love and permanent union with God.
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