God is Love

Love and Commandments.

9 As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. 12 This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. 13 [a]No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,[b] because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This I command you: love one another.-John15:9-17

They said we make our own love story. The love story of Couple1 will never be the same with Couple2 or with Couple3 even if there are similarities. But I say, God is the one who chooses for us because He is Love and He knows us better than we know ourselves. Some think that it is fate or destiny that they end up with this or that person. But for me, it is a predestined plan of God for us. It is, however, unfortunate that we take the matter into our hands and simply settle for second best. Instead of letting God guide us, we want to control our life. And with this action, we sometimes regret our decision or live a miserable life. Let us allow God, who is Love, to direct our paths to where it should be. Our Lady of Velankanni, pray for us!

Image courtesy: artist

 

Best plan ever

Yes, Lord!

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High,[a] and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, 33 and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?”[b] 35 And the angel said to her in reply, “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. 36 And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived[c] a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; 37 for nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.-Luke1:26-38

Mariologists believe that Mary is a consecrated virgin to God. Today, these women are called religious sisters or nuns. Mary was offered to God at such a young age, and grew up in the Temple as they say. But there comes a time that such consecrated virgins must perhaps go home after their service to the Temple has been fulfilled. While others enter into a marital union as what is the dominant tradition and custom, Mary vowed to remain a virgin for life. Here comes Joseph. According to Mariologists, Joseph's role is to protect that virginity. Meaning, despite being married, no union will ever happen. Such beautiful plans. But God has something else in mind for Mary. God disrupts Mary's plans by making her the mother of Jesus – Son of the Most High. Mary asked, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” Meaning, she and Joseph will never ever consent to any marital union or act. Therefore, the pregnancy is really impossible at all, though Mary is still willing to cooperate. God, through the angel, calms her that the pregnancy will happen through the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes, we have the best plans, perfect plans in life. But God upsets these plans because He has a far better plan than ours. Mary is assuring us that God will always have the best in store for us always.

“This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans...” (1Cor1:25)

image courtesy: Andrew Atroshenko (Holy Family)