Posted by The WORD in other words (2023) by Fr Dante Barril SVD – Rome, Italy
Thursday 5th Week of Easter
The statement that God’s love is unconditional requires clarification. If “unconditional” is understood in the Pauline way that even while we were still God’s enemies, his son died for us (Rm 5,10), then that’s fine. But if it is equated to a dIY (do-it-yourself) life – no demands and no rules, each to his own, then there is a problem. Biblically, God does set conditions and demands.
Our gospel today is a prime example. Jesus clearly sets a condition, “if you keep my commandments…” as early as Genesis, God already made a demand – ” …do not eat the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Gn 2,17). Then in exodus, there is the very famous “ten commandments” (Ex 20,1-17). In the New Testament, Jesus makes other ridiculously difficult demands like love your enemies Mmt 5,44), among others.
A psychologist says that the statement “I love you just the way you are” is a lie because the way you are is miserable, wounded, and insecure. So, to say I love you just the way you are is to create a false sense of security in a person, which consequently denies him or her the opportunity to grow, mature, and be better.
So, it should be: I love you… together, we shall be better every day than we were yesterday. And we shall help each other grow.
God loves us. He sets demands and conditions that push us to be better. And it is in our daily growth through him, with him, and in him that we find our real joy.
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