The Everlasting Love of God

Rev Henry Hong

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

Jeremiah 31:3 ESV

“I don’t need you, and I don’t ever want to see you again!” shouted Alex. These parting words broke the heart of his father. Whatever happened to the then 20-year-old Alex, no one knew.

Occasionally, Dr Marcus would request prayer for him at his church support-group meeting, with the hope of a father who yearned to see his son again.

Then one day Dr Marcus received a crime scene victim who had sustained five stab wounds in the abdomen.

“My son!” exclaimed the A & E doctor.

The sight of a blood-soaked tattoo-covered body of a young man, and the unmistakable face of Alex brought tears of both shock and relief to Dr Marcus. A very delicate surgery procedure followed as Dr Marcus and another surgeon worked to save his son’s life.

Due to the severity of the wounds, Alex lost the use of his legs. Though with long term rehabilitation, there was a possibility he could walk again. While lying in the hospital bed, remorse filled his heart and he was moved to reconcile with his father.

As Alex regained his strength in the unfolding months, everyone could see that he had turned over a new leaf. He acknowledged that his wayward ways sprang from immaturity, and that his low self-esteem had always been the issue. The final plunge began when he started to lose interest in school, got into substance abuse, and subsequently found a sense of belonging to a secret society.

Dr Marcus was over the moon having Alex reunited with the family, though not every member felt the same. The initial period of adjustment was challenging for Alex as there were battles within him to be fought and to be resolved.

When Alex was able to walk with the aid of a leg brace and crutches, Dr Marcus thought it was an opportune time for Alex to meet more people. The church fund-raising food fair would be a good place for him to meet his father’s church friends.

REFLECT: If Alex with his tattooed arms happened to patronize your store at the church fair, what kind of reaction/response would you offer?

READ: Take time to read and to reflect on Luke 15:1-7, 11-32. Ponder in silence on the words of the Scripture and recognize how precious each soul is in the eyes of God. In the parables of “The Lost Sheep” and “The Prodigal Son”, we are drawn into the heart of the Father who desires every one of His children to be by His side.

As seen in the Good Shepherd who leaves behind the ninety-nine sheep to go in search of the one lost sheep, the father of the prodigal son likewise demonstrates a steadfast love in waiting for the return of his son.

Being reconciled and restored to full communion is the desire of God the Father. In the same spirit shouldn’t we also approach the sacrament of Communion with such celebratory joy at returning to our Father? The fact that we are forgiven sinners means that we can extend mercy to others. The love of God compels us to welcome and celebrate the homecoming of our brothers and sisters with the same intensity as how we have been mercifully brought back to life through Jesus.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:17-18 says, “So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ.”

RESPOND: “Most Merciful and Loving Lord, with joy and hope we pray to be able to receive more of Your graces to live the mystery of God’s saving love in our lives. Allow us to recognize that You are the source of life and communion which enables us to be reconciled and to be restored to You. Grant us Your love to reach out to others in need of You, to return to Your Everlasting love. In Jesus’s Name we pray. Amen.’