Moody

“…he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.’” (John 3:36).

The Descent from the Cross (Nicolas Tournier)

God becomes very sad when we do not recognise His Son…

God entered time and space through the Immaculate Conception, so that we would be saved.  He brought Himself down to our level so that we could have a chance of salvation, which we destroyed through Original Sin.

And yet, when we fail to accept God or God’s Holy Will, God is saddened.

I have been reflecting on this for a while now.  You see, God is described as being sad, upset or hurt by the actions of wicked humans.  But God is infinite and perfect.  He is not moody.  He is not subject to feelings in the way that we humans are subject to feelings and emotions.  And I have been reflecting on that today…

“John the Baptist said to his disciples: ‘He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all. He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony; he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.’” (John 3:31-36).

That was the purpose of Christ – God the Son – entering time and space.  He allowed Himself to be Begotten so that He could give testimony to God the Father.  And it is because of this that God – who is not moody – is described as having an emotional reaction to the rejection of His Testimony…

It is not because God is moody.  Rather it is because the WHOLE POINT of Christ becoming incarnate is so that He could deliver this message.  If we refuse to accept this testimony, then what is the point of everything else?

God is inviting us to share in His greater understanding of Himself.  Remember that the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that our purpose in life is to know love and sever God and to be with Hims forever in Heaven.  If we refuse to know Him – even when He Himself reveals Himself to us, then what chance have we got of being able to please Him?  What chance have we got of being able to be saved by Him?  How can we recognise salvation from damnation if we cannot even recognise the message?  And how can we recognise the message if we never stop for long enough to listen to it?

And I have been thinking about this today.  For from the moment that God created human beings, He knew that we would betray Him and He knew that He could consent to enter time and space to save us.  He also knew that we would fail to recognise His testimony.  And that is a terrible burden.  Because of everything that God has done for me there is nothing that I could possibly repay.  And in this terrible terrible sacrifice, I have not even the decency to listen to His testimony…  Not even the decency…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.