By Fr. Christopher Foeckler, MJ •  St. Josaphat Formation Center • Phoenix, AZ

As we approach the central mysteries of our Faith during Holy Week and Easter, we confront again the mystery of God’s unrelenting love for mankind demonstrated so many times in the history of Israel and celebrated in the Liturgical life of the Church. The love that God has for mankind is called “unconditional love” – it cannot be earned or merited and it cannot be lost or worn out, yet it always demands a response.

The sign of this unconditional love includes the rescue of the People of God from cruel slavery in Egypt, brought safely through the sea while their pursuing enemies are destroyed, and is then acknowledged by Israel with ingratitude after ingratitude as at Horeb, Meriba, Massa and many other places along the way to the Promised Land. And yet God does not destroy or abandon them, but eventually leads them into the land flowing with milk and honey, gives them a kingdom and the promise of a Messiah.

In the New Testament we are assured that, “God so loved the world that He sent His only Beloved Son to save the world” which we so joyfully celebrated in the Christmas Season; and now we recall that He asked His Son – our Lord Jesus Christ to offer Himself as the innocent Victim on the Cross for the ransom of the world – “if it is possible let this cup pass Me by, but not My will but Yours be done.” That the Father asks the Son to offer Himself for us SINNERS, solemnly verifies the unconditional nature of God’s love in that we have not and even cannot earn it or merit it.

The icon of this extraordinary Year of Mercy called by Pope Francis is the Good Shepherd. A beautiful image of God’s unrelenting love for the wayward sheep that doesn’t stand aloof indifferently waiting to see if the sinner will return to Him, but rather a love that constantly pursues them, calls to them by name, and reaches out for them until He finds and carries them home rejoicing. The lost sheep have to stop and turn back to Him and let Him rescue them, but the Lord’s love for them never wearies or wanes.

So now in this Holy Week and Easter celebration, let us acknowledge God’s unwearied love for each of us, with all our sins, faults and weaknesses, and kneeling before His Cross, thank Him for His unrelenting Love and offer back – as best we can by His grace – our own.

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