Let us pray to love as God loves! He Loves Us Now -- Just the Way We Are!

God loves us "just the way [we] are." Does he want more from us? Absolutely! He wants us to be saints. He wants us to "be perfect" even as our heavenly Father is perfect. And he gives us all the tools we need to grow more and more into that perfection. 

Do we have to be perfect for Him to love us? NO! NO! NO! He takes us now, "just the way we are." 

Think of the woman at the well, ostracized by the entire town, but not by Jesus. He waited there for her and reached out as soon as she approached. Think of the betrayal of His closest apostles and Peter's denial with curses! Peter saw the look of loving forgiveness and burst into repentant tears. 

God loves us right this minute no matter how far we've run from Him. In fact, He pursues us with "unhurrying chase and unperturb-ed pace, Deliberate speed, majestic instancy." He loves us so much He will never stop pursuing us and will continue until the moment of our death. God wants us back like the father of the prodigal son who spent every day looking down the road. He saw his son returning "far off" and ran out to meet him. That is our good God who loves us and sent His Son with outstretched arms to call us to Himself.

Even if we flee from God our whole life, He will never stop seeking our return. He will forgive us everything at the very last moment if we have one tear of repentance. Would that we all can be like God and love our family and friends "just the way they are." That's my prayer this Advent for everyone who touches my life. May I never be a stumbling block to anyone. 

Our Lady, Queen of Advent, pray for us who have recourse to Thee.