“ Loved By Christ”

“The love of Christ impels us.” (2Cor. 5:14) This is a beautiful passage. I’m inspired when I hear it. But let’s turn it around a bit and ask the question……am I impelled ? Am I driven, pressured, inspired by the love of Christ. Do my actions point to the fact that I’m impelled by the love of Christ. ……. hmmmmm. Perhaps I can find times where the evidence would support this. Yet, there are also times where I really don’t feel and act “compelled by the love of Christ”.

Today is the feast day of St. Paul who actually wrote this phrase under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. As you look at Paul’s life, you can see that he was impelled… his courage and energy and perseverance…his willingness to suffer for Christ….wow, the love of Christ really impelled him. Pope Benedict XVI wrote concerning St. Paul, “ it is clear that Paul would have been unable to face such difficult and desperate situations if the love of Christ had not impelled him so that he  might live no longer for himself , but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2Cor. 5:14-15)

Well, where does this leave us ? It’s not a bad thing to honestly measure our life against the great saints. These great men and women were sold out for the Lord…not perfect, but they gave all in their “attempt” to be perfect for Christ. They had fallen in love with the Lord…they knew the love of Christ and they couldn’t help but respond with their whole life. 

I believe the Lord in his mercy withholds some of his peace until we give all to him…. until we are fully compelled by the love of Christ…..probably the better way to say this is that we hinder our self from receiving this peace. Regardless, we are never fully peaceful and happy having given a “lot of our life” to the Lord or 90% to the Lord, or even 99% to the Lord. When we hold back anything from following the Lord, it seems that there is always a bit of unrest. It doesn’t mean that in actuality I ever achieve this great goal on earth, but that every day I give it my best…I try again…I repent of my sin and look to move forward. It’s not easy, yet the Lord is there to help us begin again.

Oh Lord, may your love impel us !!! Help us to fall more and more in love with you. Help us to allow you to change us everyday. Our hope is in the Lord who made heaven and earth….. and as we continue on,  “all will be well with our soul”.