Falling in Love

In my April 20 sermon on the contemplative tradition, I taught about responding to God’s invitation to pursue intimacy with him. God’s invitation to love him always remains an invitation. We are free to respond or not to respond, to receive and give love to the extent that we are willing and able.

But as anyone who loves knows, our love can be won. God loves us with a perfect love, untarnished by human frailty. Scripture shows us that God woos his people with his love, sincerely desiring to win our hearts.

During the worship which followed, we passed around bookmarks. This poem by Pedro Arupe is printed on one side, a take-home reminder of the challenge to fall in love with God. On the other side is 1 of 6 Scriptures, a sampling of God’s words of love to you and me.

The Poem:

Nothing is more practical
than finding God,
that is, falling in love
in a quite absolute, final way.
What you are in love with,
what seizes your imagination,
will affect everything.

It will decide
what gets you out of bed in the morning,
what you will do with your evenings,
how you will spend your weekends,
what you read,
who you know,
what breaks your heart,
and what amazes you with joy and gratitude.

Fall in love,
stay in love,
and it will decide everything.

Pedro Arrupe
Superior General of The Society of Jesus (Jesuits), 1966-1991

The Scriptures:

“I’ve loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love.” Jesus (John 15:9, The Message)

Long ago the Lord said to Israel, “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.” The Prophet Jeremiah (Jer 31:3 NLT)

“I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Apostle Paul (Romans 8:38-39 NLT)

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” The Apostle John (1 John 3:1 TNIV)

“Come to me with your ears wide open.
Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.”
The Lord (Isaiah 55:3 NLT)

“How exquisite your love, O God!
How eager we are to run under your wings,
To eat our fill at the banquet you spread as you fill our tankards with Eden spring water.
You’re a fountain of cascading light,
and you open our eyes to light.” King David (Psalm 36:7-9, The Message)

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