THE NATURE OF GOD’S LOVE

Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

One of the most profound statements in the Bible is found in the first letter of St. John – “God is love” (1 John 4:8). The readings of this sixth Sunday of Easter invite us to reflect on the nature of God’s love. 

In the first reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48), we witness the remarkable encounter between Peter, a devout Jew, and Cornelius, a Roman centurion and Gentile. This encounter challenged Peter’s deeply ingrained prejudices and revealed the inclusive nature of God’s love. Peter declared, “I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation, whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35). As such, the first thing we notice about God’s love is that the love of God is both expansive and inclusive. It knows no boundaries or limitations. It extends to all people, regardless of race, ethnicity, or social status.

The second thing about the nature of God’s love is found in today’s Gospel passage. God’s love is sacrificial and selfless. It is a love that is willing to lay down its life for others. Jesus revealed the sacrificial nature of God’s love, when he declared, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one's friends’ (John 15:13). Love is the hallmark of discipleship and sacrifice is the ultimate expression of love. Through his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus demonstrated the depth and extent of God’s love for humanity - a love that is selfless, unconditional, and redemptive.

The Gospel reading also shows us that God’s love is transformative. It has the power to change lives and hearts. Through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to love one another as Christ loved us, bearing fruit that remains and glorifies God. As St. John tells us in the second reading, we are to love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God because God is love (1 John 4:7-8). The love of God transforms us from the position of slaves to that of friends.

Finally, God’s love is abiding. It is constant and unwavering. That is why Jesus invites us to abide in his love, to remain steadfast and secure in the knowledge of God’s enduring love for us. God’s love is not dependent on our circumstances or performance but is rooted in the very character of God himself. As the psalmist declares, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23). God’s love is not fickle or fleeting; it remains with us through every season of life, through joy and sorrow, triumph and failure. God’s love is the rock upon which we build our lives, the anchor that holds us steady in the storms of life.

As we reflect on the nature of God’s love, let us be inspired to embody this love in our own lives especially in our relationship with God and others. Let us learn to reach out to others with compassion, mercy, and grace, and be bearers and witnesses of the transformative power of God’s love in the world. May we abide in God’s love and reflect it to others, so that all may come to experience the boundless depth of God’s love for humanity. May God bless you abundantly with his love and grace. Amen.