Romantic love is blind to everything except what is lovable and lovely, but Christ’s love sees us with terrible clarity and sees us whole. Christ’s love so wishes our joy that it is ruthless against everything in us that diminishes our joy. The worst sentence Love can pass is that we behold the suffering which Love has endured for our sake, and that is also our acquittal. The justice and mercy of the judge are ultimately one.
- Frederick Buechner
image by Resclassic2
(With thanks and appreciation to Pat Dague at Transfigurations)
What an amazingly powerful quotation. Pat posted this on Valentine’s Day, two weeks ago, but I’ve not been able to stop thinking about this. Read these two lines again:
Christ’s love sees us with terrible clarity and sees us whole. Christ’s love so wishes our joy that it is ruthless against everything in us that diminishes our joy.
I’m reminded of a number of passages of Scripture:
Ps 139
Eph 2
- NOTHING in us is hidden from God’s sight, yet even though He sees the depths of our hearts, all the sinful ugly parts we try to hide, He still loves us. He died for us when we were His enemies, hostile to Him, because He longed for us to be reconciled to Himself. And while the unsanctified parts of our hearts may be desperately black and dark, they are not dark to Him. His light and power will triumph there. One day those of us who are in Christ will be like Him, perfect, spotless, and our joy will be complete!
Yes, that is a great quote. Happy Good Friday!