The Foundation of Fearless Love
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Romans 8:31-39
What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but handed him over for us all, how will he not also give us everything else along with him? Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who acquits. Who will condemn? It is Christ Jesus who died, rather, was raised, who also is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? As it is written: “For your sake we are being slain all the day; we are looked upon as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 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.
Grace Prayed For
I pray for the grace to have an unshakeable, interior conviction of being profoundly and unconditionally loved by God, so that this security might free me from fear and empower me to share and receive love generously in every encounter
Reflection
The invitation to intimacy begins with a question that settles the soul: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” St. Paul isn’t asking us to puff out our chests in defiance of the world, but to rest our hearts in a profound, unshakable security. This is the bedrock of all true intimacy. Think of a small child held securely in a parent’s arms; free from fear, the child can look out, smile, and engage with the world. This is the posture God desires for us. He has already made the ultimate gesture of love—giving His own Son—not to prove a point, but to draw us close. This act wasn’t a transaction; it was a total gift of self, the ultimate “sharing” that invites us into a relationship where nothing is held back.
So often, our inability to share ourselves or receive from others comes from a place of fear and insecurity. We carry the quiet accusations of our own hearts, the remembered condemnations of others, the feeling that we are not enough. But Paul silences these voices with the truth of the Gospel: Jesus, who died and was raised, is not standing as our accuser but as our advocate, constantly interceding for us at the Father’s right hand. We are acquitted, chosen, and beloved.
When we begin to let this truth sink from our heads into our hearts, something miraculous happens. The list of potential calamities—anguish, distress, persecution—loses its power. It’s not that these things won’t happen, but they can no longer touch the core of who we are, because who we are is one who is loved by God. Nothing—not our failures today, not our fears for tomorrow, not even death itself—can sever this bond of love. We are not just survivors; we are “more than conquerors” because we don’t fight alone. We conquer by resting in the victory He has already won. This is the foundation. It is from this place of being totally secure, completely held, and infinitely loved that we find the grace and courage to go out into the world. We can finally stop trying to earn love and simply begin to give it away, sharing the immeasurable love we have first received.
Announcing Jesus in Our Lives
Evangelizing in Daily Life
The most powerful form of evangelization flows from a life transformed by love. When I truly grasp how Jesus has loved me—pursuing me in my brokenness, forgiving my repeated failings, and seeing me with infinite tenderness—I can’t help but share that love. My mission isn’t about winning arguments but about radiating a different kind of existence.
- Practice Generous Listening: Because I am secure in God’s love, I don’t need to be the center of attention. I can truly listen to another person’s story, their joys, and their pains. In offering someone my undivided, loving attention, I offer them a reflection of how God pays attention to us. This is a profound way to “receive” another person.
- Speak Words of Life: Jesus sees the gold in me, even when all I see is the dust. I can partner with Him by looking for the good in others and speaking it aloud. A sincere compliment, a word of encouragement, or an expression of gratitude can be a channel of God’s affirming love into someone’s life.
- Serve Without an Agenda: The love of Christ is a free gift. I can reflect this by doing small things for others without expecting anything in return. Holding a door, letting someone go ahead in line, or helping a neighbor are small acts of service that proclaim the Gospel of selfless love. It’s about sharing from the overflow of what I have been given.
- Share Your Hope: When people ask why I have peace in a difficult situation or joy amidst trial, I can share my story. Not a sermon, but a simple testimony: “It’s been hard, but I know God is with me. My relationship with Jesus gives me a hope that isn’t dependent on my circumstances.” This shares the source of my love and invites others into the same story.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post