The Living Word of God: Rev 1:5b
“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood…”
One loves us as we are. He loves each of us from eternity. He loves us in such a way that he introduces us to his purity, the purity he shares with his Father. True love is purity. Purity, as a divine, Christian, and ultimately human trait, is always a testament and act of his love in the Lord, something that always expands to a greater fullness of love.
Purity is never a fearful reaction to what is impure, it is never a retreat, hiding away, but a free preference for good, so that nothing impure may taint or weaken love. Love and purity strengthen each other. And as love for the Lord grows in purity, the Lord reaches in us that we attempt to love him as he has loved and continues to love us.
He loves us and has freed us from our sins, from everything that was impure in us, tainted, which hindered our approach to him. Before we knew him, we built obstacles with our sins that no longer allowed us to look at God. Everything we built from our side served to make the walls we erected even higher and stronger. And perhaps we once saw this clearly. But when we tried to remove the obstacle, we were merely relocating stones: what we removed from one side, we piled up on the other. We tried to rid ourselves of one sin, for example sensuality, but in the process another, such as vanity, grew stronger within us. It did not occur to us to break down the whole wall, or we feared that it would bury us. In everything, we loved ourselves. Therefore, the Lord had to appear to tear down the entire wall; however, by doing so, he exposed himself to the same danger of being buried. His love never rests solely in commandments; what he asks, he also does, and always with complete personal commitment.
He removed our sin and drew near to us by pouring out his blood for all. Every time the Lord levels the stronghold of our sins, it happens at the cost of his blood. He pours it out not just generally, but truly for each individual. It would be best if we immediately recognized his power and laid down our arms. But we continue to fight and spill even more of his blood. The only possible help we could provide him would be our obedience and full submission. We cannot advise the Lord on how he should redeem us. Nor can we wish for him to do everything while we passively observe. We can help him by serving him: letting his work unfold, but cooperating in his intentions. The measure of our cooperation will be determined precisely by the help he will ask for. For many, it may mean limiting their help, renouncing many things they would like to do. And for many, sometimes just the offer of wanting to help.
Adapted from the book: Apocalypse
Author: Adrienne von Speyr
Published by: Johannes Verlag, Einsiedeln 1950
Translated by: Norbert Žuška, O.Carm.
