After Nouwen

Yesterday’s Lenten reading from Henri Nouwen was particularly poignant and paralleled what I’ve been thinking about a lot.

“But Jesus came to open my ears to another voice that says, “I am your God.  I have moved you with my own hands, and I love what i have made.  I love you with a love that has no limits, because I love you as I am loved…… I know all your thoughts.  I hear all your words.  I see all of your actions.  And I love you because you are beautiful, made in my own image, an expression of my most intimate love. Do not judge yourself.  Do not condemn yourself.  Do not reject yourself.  Let my love touch the deepest, most hidden corners of your heart and reveal to you your own beauty, a beauty that you have lost sight of, but which will become visible to you again in the light of my mercy.  Come, come, let me wipe your tears, and let my mouth come close to your ear and say to you, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

This is the voice that Jesus wants us to hear.  It us the voice that calls us always to return to the one who has created us in love and wants to re-create us in mercy. ”

Make clear this love to us today, make abundantly and surprisingly known to us this love.  Help us allow the space needed for that love to take root, as terrifying as that might be.