You are loved more than you know: Homily for Thursday, August 24, 2023

You are loved more than you know How was it that Saint Bartholomew was so convinced that Jesus was the Messiah? After all, he had only heard about him from Philip, and all it took was Jesus’ recounting this event that convinced him. Perhaps it was because in this encounter, Bartholomew knew that he was loved, and that in Jesus’ wanting a relationship with Bartholomew it meant that Jesus only wanted the infinite best for Bartholomew. Transcription How often is it that we sell God short? We say things like, "Well, you know, if God really knew me, or if someone else really knew me, they'd think differently of me."  How much is it the case that our expectations get lowered about what God promises us? Well, I hope I just sneak into heaven. You know, that'll be enough.  You see, God has great things in store for us. And if there's a lesson from the readings today, it is that they are wilder than our wildest dreams. That in fact, it's a glorious, glorious picture that is painted for us of what God wants for each one of us because he loves us more than we can possibly know or imagine.  Nathaniel is inspired because Jesus knows something. I don't quite know why this inspired him to agree with Philip, but he does nonetheless. He agrees. He's known by God. It's not that God loves us and doesn't know us. It's that because God knows us, he loves us. He made us. He knows of what we are capable. He knows what we can do.  His love for us is so powerful and so strong it can forgive even the most difficult sin. And really the only sin God can't forgive, that unforgivable sin, is the sin that says God can't forgive me. God's rich and deep in mercy and his love for us knows no bounds. And so let us ask the Lord today to help us to believe that a little more.