Christ's Limitless Love
Love is patient and kind; Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not arrogant or rude. Love does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrong, but rejoices in the right. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
No doubt, in today’s society we are exposed to many messages about the meaning of love. Countless song titles speak on the subject - “What’s love got to do with it?” “Will you still love me tomorrow?” “All you need is love.” Amidst thousands of songs, movies, and book titles, our Lord’s Resurrection reminds us that it ‘is’ about God’s limitless and sacrificial love.
Mother Teresa said it well when she spoke of a paradox ‘that if you love until it hurts, there can be not more hurt, only more love. This is the limitless love God has given for us at Pascha. It is a love that transfigures pain, a love that continues to fill, inspires, and changes the world. It is a love that ignites hearts to be a light into the world.
This limitless love of Jesus is freely given for all on Pascha! We see love in action. Christ pours out His self-sacrificial love and devotion to His people and His creation. He empties himself, and is crucified on the cross. His limitless loves takes Him to Hades to take on Satan to save and free us from the chains and shackles that restricts us from being united with Him with this limitless love.
On Pascha, He didn’t measure the amount of blood shed for our salvation. He didn’t complain about the beatings and whippings or being spat upon. He never asked anything from anyone for carrying that cross. He didn’t complain about Peter’s denial or Thomas’ doubt. He just did it!
In fact, Christ was not economical with His pain. He didn’t say this amount of suffering equals saving a few people. He didn’t give life for a few but for every precious person. He shed his blood for you and me. He commanded for His word to be preached to everyone and for us to become living temples of His Holy Spirit.
There is no limit to His love. There is no waste for the things of God. He deserves it all and I wish we can learn to not waste but use every ounce of breath and energy on Christ as He freely gave us His life, breath, and energy.
I am reminded that nothing is wasted when it is done from the heart. Before His crucifixion, Mary, Lazarus’ sister took a pound of expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped His feet with her hair. Her heart burned for the love of Christ and she showed it while the cold heart of Judas asked why she is wasting this ointment.
I am sure we say the same thing. What is this crazy woman doing wasting this on Jesus? We know you love Jesus but don’t be foolish spending a years worth of wages on that ointment to wipe Christ’s feet.
But this ointment was an expression of the overflowing heart of Mary. It was an outward expression of love fed by heavenly streams until it overflowed and it is this crazy expression of love that we are asked to offer Christ.
I have experienced this limitless love when I see a parent of a child suffering from cancer sacrificing their will, their time, their energy to care for their child. There is nothing a parent will do to bring life, comfort, hope and joy to an ailing child. Nothing!
St. Paul echoes this sentiment in Romans 8:38-39. There is nothing that will keep us from God’s love. For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love; neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, neither the world above nor the world below – there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord!
The way we express our love for Jesus depends on the kind of relationship we have developed with Him. Our love for Him will not grow unless we spend time with Him in prayer, listen to His voice in His Holy Word, and experience His love for us during the day. Just as she poured out the very best she had, we are asked to do the same.
Money is never the issue, but a sincere expression of faith and love is. We offer our ointment when we practice faithful service wherever God has placed us- at home with the kids, at the office, leading a company, teaching, preaching, etc.
Let us realize the limitless love of Christ offered at His Holy Resurrection and offer Him our faithful, diligent service as our gift with our tears. Many may consider our efforts crazy or wasted leading to no permanent change in the world. But what others may call insignificant or wasteful, God deems to be a fragrant aroma that fills His home of the universe with aroma.
There is always something beautiful and fragrant about what we do out of love. No act performed out of a mere sense of duty or obligation can fill the air with that kind of fragrance.
May the limitless love of Christ’s Resurrection enlighten you, challenge you, motivate you, and inspire you to freely practice offering everything you have to Jesus.
By Fr. Tom Tsagalakis
Source: Holy Apostles Greek Orthodox Chruch
