The Beloved of God!

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Acts 18:23-28; Jn 16:23-28

Today’s Gospel explains how disciples of Jesus become the beloved of God. 

The privilege can be explained in two steps.  

Faith: Jesus is the visible face of the invisible Father. Therefore, accepting Jesus and believing in him is equivalent to accepting and believing in the Father Himself. Our faith in Jesus honors and glorifies the Father, who is present in Jesus. Therefore, faith in Jesus is faith in God. 

Love: Faith in Jesus is manifested in our love for him. Jesus extends God’s love to those who love him in return. Since the Father and Jesus are one, love for Jesus is transposed as love for God as well. God is loved through Jesus. 

In sum, God honors and glorifies those who believe in Jesus enough to love him.

The beloved of Jesus also become the beloved of God. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar