A Thought for the Week of October 22

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance." (2 Thessalonians 3:5) Some people try to suggest that this verse is about our love for God - so that we are pleading for God to help us love God. Doesn't that sound a little bit self-serving on God's part? I believe that what the first part of the verse is saying is that God is actively drawing us; actively pulling us God-ward. Everything God does, everything God reveals and everything about God is directed toward the one purpose of helping us to understand God's love - the love that God has for us and for all creation. Love is the ultimate promise of the gospel, and in a society and a world where a lot of people feel unloved (and perhaps unworthy to be loved) is there a more important message to offer people than that they are loved by and special to God? Just a couple of days ago, Kateri Tekakwitha was canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. She's the first Native American to be so honoured. I'm a Protestant, of course, and the Roman Catholic concept of sainthood is quite foreign to me. But one comment made by a native who celebrated the occasion was that it was so good to see that one of her people are equal to the other saints in the eyes of God. That's a paraphrase, but it sums up the comment. I think the gospel tells us that we're all equal in the eyes of God; that we're all equally loved by God. When troubles strike, that knowledge is what gives us the perseverance of Christ to see ourselves through. When you're having one of those rough days, just remember - God is trying to place within your hearts the knowledge of how much you're loved! Have a great week!