God's Heart in His Word
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? -Romans 8:35
Reflect
There is a park I love and hate to take my kids to when it gets really hot. It is half awesome slides, half splash pad. As you can imagine, this is wildly popular among the families in our community, so it is always packed. I love it because my kids have a blast. I hate it because it is mentally exhausting to watch little ones up, down, and around all of the play equipment. Because, ultimately, I am afraid of them being separated and the accompanying feeling of fear that quickly follows until I can find them again.
There are blessed few things we cannot be separated from: air, water, and food come to mind. Things we would literally die without. These are the types of things that get a little more attention around Lent as we remember Jesus’ time and temptation in the desert. And yet, Paul’s letter to the Romans poses a good question: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Three verses later, he reinforces the reality that we physically cannot be separated from the love of Christ:
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
If you do much reading of the mystics, you might notice that a common name they use to address God is “Love.”
I deeply admire this practice and have tried to incorporate it in my personal prayer life. Because names matter, reminding myself that the very nature of God is love only serves to fuel my relationship as one of trust.
There are times when our circumstances or choices might make us feel as though we could be separated from Jesus’ Sacred Heart, like a child who has wandered off at the park. However, today the words of St. Paul serve to remind us otherwise. He never leaves us.
Let Us Pray
Loving God, I praise You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for the reassurance that neither present things nor future things, neither depth nor height, can separate us from You and the love of Your Sacred Heart. Help me to catch a glimpse of this great love in my life today, in Jesus’ most powerful Name. Amen.
For Discussion
In times when God has felt distant, what encouragement have you sought for consolation/do you seek now?
What affirms your belief that you are never separated from the love of God?
In His Heart: The 2020 Prayer Pledge // Day 27 #BISblog #prayerpledge //Click to tweet
Katie Cassady is a regular contributor to the BIS blog. She is a wife and mom to three little girls in Denver, CO. Steeped in theological reflection, beekeeping and motherhood, she is appreciative of any and all wisdom she can glean from those living intentional lives of faith. Find out more about her here. Read all of Katie's posts here.
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