It is hard for us to fully comprehend God’s unconditional love for us, even more so when we reflect on his death on the cross for our redemption. He himself expressed his love when he said, “Greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for a friend.” But we were not friends, but enemies because of our slavery to sin.

This is how St. Paul explained it:  “Now someone might barely be willing to die for the sake of justice, for example, perhaps someone might dare to die for the sake of a good man. But God demonstrates his love for us in that, while we were yet sinners, at the proper time, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8).

First of all Jesus did not have to die to save us. He chose to out of love. Secondly, he didn’t have to endure the humiliations, buffets and mockeries at the hands of those he created. He chose to out of love for us. Thirdly, Jesus, the innocent One, did not have to experience the excessive scourging and crowning with thorns, which disfigured his body. He chose to out of love for us. Fourthly, the Son of God did not have to struggle under the weight of the cross, tortuously egged on by the soldiers and the jeers of the crowds. He chose to out of love for us. Fifthly, he did not have to die the cruelest of all deaths on the cross. He chose to out of love for us. 

What love response can we begin to give to such tremendous love? Return to and remain in our first love with the God whose love for us is undeniable and beyond human comprehension. Our love never can equate his love but expresses our profound gratitude.