Accepting the Love of the Saviour and Prophet

As the human lover strives always towards getting closer and closer to the one he loves, so the divine Lover seeks the means of entering deeply within us.

The sacraments, often called inventions of love, are ways in which Christ concretely and visibly, yet mysteriously and intimately, enters into union with us….  It may be remarked that the definition of a sacrament in general as a visible sign of invisible grace is very felicitously explained by the analogy to human love.

Although the essence of love is something invisible, ineffable, and greater than any expression of it, it continually seeks to become manifest in a visible form — in gifts, smiles, kisses, and embraces. Those who view God as so transcendent that it would be inconsistent for him to manifest his love in any concrete way seem to misunderstand the nature of love….

Although every creature is born out of the loving hand of God, because of original sin he has lost spiritual participation in God's life.  He is turned towards the pursuit of worldliness rather than toward God.  But Christ's redemption has removed the barrier between man and God and opened a way to an essential reunion.  We believe that Christ embraces the spirit of his creature in baptism and seals it in a bond of love which can never be destroyed….

Even in human love, we find a great desire actually to be in the presence of the beloved one.  If someone would be willing to do anything for another but would shun her presence, she would feel hurt and unloved.  Being in the actual presence of someone she loves causes a deep happiness, as his tenderness heals the deep wounds of loneliness….

It appears from the Gospels that Christ wanted very much for us to experience his presence, to have us near him.  He would gather his people as a hen gathers its chicks.  He lets the little children come unto him.  He suffers the crowds to cluster around him.  He asks Peter if he loves him.  He even begs his friends to be present in his agony.