God challenges us to show our love for Him

	Word to Life  By Jeff Hedglen

Years ago I was a clown. Not in the Ringling Brothers sense of the word, but the clown ministry version. I loved my costume: I was kind of a prom date gone wrong with top hat, tails, and all.

My time in this ministry was short-lived, and my great costume went into the closet to collect dust. Some time later a friend of mine who was still in the ministry asked if he could have my top hat for his costume. I was hesitant, thinking maybe I would pull it out for Halloween or some other random event. In the end I said no.

May 18, 2008 Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 Psalm: Daniel 3:52-56 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 John 3:16-18

That top hat sat untouched on the top shelf in my office for the next 10 years. Every time I looked at it I remembered my unwillingness to give it away. My attachment to this small material object blocked the love I had for my friend.

Lucky for us, God does not behave like this. John's Gospel tells us that "God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life."

Love is wanting good for another and being willing to do what it takes to bring about this good in the person's life. God demonstrates this definitively in the sacrifice of his Son. It is God's desire that every one of us spend eternity in union with him. To bring about this desired good meant sending Jesus to earth to suffer and die for our sins. God was willing to do this. This was the first "big give" (sorry, Oprah).

	For reflection: • How would you make John 3:16 come alive for you? • (You) so loved (name of person) that (you) gave (a gift) so that this person would have (name the good you want for him/her). What is a good you have received from someone's love for you?

John 3:16 is not just a great sign to hold up in the end zone of a football game. It is the defining statement of God's love for us. Yet, at the same time, it is also the blueprint for how we are called to love.

God does not ask us to give up our children to save the world, but he challenges us to show our love for God and our neighbor through what we give, be that a lifetime of missionary work or an unused top hat. It truly is not how much we give but that we give.

This column is offered in cooperation with the North Texas Catholic of Fort Worth, Texas.

Prayer to St. Raphael Glorious Archangel St. Raphael, great prince of the heavenly court, you are illustrious for your gifts of wisdom and grace. You are a guide of those who journey by land or sea or air, consoler of the afflicted, and refuge of sinners. We beg you, assist us in all our needs and in all the sufferings of this life, as once you helped the young Tobias on his travels. Because you are the "medicine of God" we humbly pray you to heal the many infirmities of our souls and the ills that afflict our bodies. We especially ask your guidance of our diocese as we journey toward the rebuilding of a cathedral bearing your name, and the great grace of purity to prepare us to be temples of the Holy Spirit. As our intercessor, beg the Blessed Trinity to prosper the work of our hands and, above all, to bring us, face-to-face, into their Holy presence. Amen.