Sure, God’s Mad For Us.

 

“Sure, God’s Mad For Us – But Are We Pullin’ Our Weight?”

Ah, isn’t it grand to know that God’s love is like a warm fire on a winter’s night? No conditions, no strings, just boundless love for the likes of us, sinners and all. If you’ve ever opened the Good Book, you’d see He’s a fierce ally to the rogues and outcasts. Remember how Matthew called Him “a friend of taxmen and scoundrels”? Even Judas, with betrayal fresh on his lips, heard Him say, “Friend, what’s your game?” And poor Lazarus, asleep in his tomb, was hailed as “our friend.” That’s a heart bigger than the sky above Valentia, isn’t it?

But c'mere to me: we’re fond of being reminded about it, aren’t we? Not because we’re forgetful, mind, but because it’s sweet to hear. Who wouldn’t love to be told, over and over, that there’s Someone up there who thinks the world of us? Especially when that Someone made the stars and the sea and still has time to care about our little lives.

Now, here’s a thought for you: what do we do with that love? If we had the faintest notion of how much God pours out for us, we’d be reduced to puddles, too overwhelmed to move. But love, like the spuds in a good Irish stew, isn’t worth much if you keep it all to yourself. The more you share, the richer it becomes. Sure, didn’t the liturgy tell us about the Son giving Himself up for the life of the world? That’s love in action, not just words. So, are we giving anything back? Or are we too snug in our ways, clinging to our comforts like moss to a stone?

Repentance, they call it—a change of heart. Not the oul’ “woe is me” routine, where you’re forever moaning about your sins. No, real repentance is about letting God into your heart and feeling His love so deeply it spurs you to clean out the cobwebs. And the cleaner your heart, the clearer you’ll see Him. Like the reflection in a still pond—dirty water shows nothing, but clear water reveals the heavens.

Now, let’s be honest. Sometimes we like to sit back and say, “Ah, sure God loves us as we are,” and leave it at that. But isn’t that a bit like staying in your old mucky clothes and expecting to be welcomed into the finest ballroom? God loves us, no doubt, but shouldn’t we tidy ourselves up a bit out of respect, if nothing else?

There’s this modern notion, too, that we must love ourselves first and foremost. And fair play, there’s a truth to it—if it’s the right kind of love. The kind where you value yourself because you’re a child of God, destined for greatness beyond this world. But too often, it’s the other kind: the selfish love that lets us do whatever we fancy, no matter the cost.

I heard a great tale from a dentist once, about some fancy sun cream she bought. The ad on the bottle promised endless joy and said, “Because you deserve it.” Well, she slathered it on and ended up with a rash for her troubles. Her husband had the wit to say, “Well, you deserved that, didn’t you?” And isn’t that just like the world today? Making promises it can’t keep and leaving us worse off than before. Only God loves us truly and knows the gold hidden in each of us.

So, what’s to be done? Repentance again—that’s the key. It’s not just about going to Confession and ticking a box. It’s about making your heart a place where God can settle in, where His reflection can shine bright. Like a bride preparing for her wedding, we’ve to put on our finest garments—not the external ones, but the ones of the soul. Yes, God loves us as we are, but isn’t it the least we can do to spruce ourselves up for Him?

So, let’s not just sit around basking in God’s love like it’s an Irish sunbeam (fleeting and rare). Let’s roll up our sleeves, change what needs changing, and give back some of the love that He’s showered on us. After all, a love like that deserves more than just a nod and a wink.