God is Love – By Derrick Fernando
Source:- Qld Sri Lankan Newsletter
Christianity is not about whether we are right or wrong, good or bad but whether we love and have compassion. One day Jesus healed a blind man and the Jews were debating about how he became blind, was it his past sin, a curse, unbelief or his parent’s sin? The man said, I do not know about these debates, but one thing I know; once I was blind and now, I can see! That is all that is required. Seek God’s love and compassion first; then everything else will be all right!
The world is full of elitism, rampant individualism, nationalism and militarism. Me, my race, my nationality, my caste, my culture first; everything else is secondary. We can see where the world is heading with this ‘me culture’ penetrating every fabric of our society. When we see men, women and children being killed, families destroyed, and towns and cities reduced to rubble in wars like Gaza, Ukraine and other places, we see the power of death in action. Christians cannot remain silent in the face of such injustice, exploitation, death and destruction.
There is only one reality in this world: LOVE because God is LOVE. God created human beings to love one another and everything else is secondary. Jesus, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, is the ultimate representation of that Love. No one is absolutely good nor absolutely evil.
It is an invitation to be humble; that no one has all the answers or possesses all the truth. Whatever concept we have about God, he engages us as a Presence rather than some metaphysical force or energy; he meets us at our deepest, most personal, and passionate level. The only way we can understand God is through understanding what love is.
Humility, grace and truth expose the injustice, prejudice and greed that dominate the world. When we are with God, we see the world differently, the way God sees the world, the way Jesus sees the world with love, hope and forgiveness. It is a vision and a worldview that includes everyone.
It is a choice we make, to live at the periphery of life defending our ego, power, position, glory, pleasures, and selfishness and allow these to shape our lives or to live at the centre where God lives, loving one another in thought, deed and word. That is the life that bears fruits and flourishes. A life that God can use to transform human relationships, communities, and individuals.
To a world burdened with wars, resentment, anger, violence, prejudice and hatred, a child is born to bring peace, hope, love and acceptance. May that peace be yours at this Christmas.
Derrick Fernando
Derrick Fernando is a retired Principal Engineer, Department of Transport and Main Roads. One of his interests is to read and understand social, cultural, religious and political ideas and values and how these influence the shaping of our society.
