God's Transforming Love - by Bro. Glenn dela Cruz

The love of God is not simply an abstract idea, a distant concept, or a fleeting emotion—it is the most profound force that transforms, heals, and makes whole. The entirety of salvation history, from the creation of humanity to the redemptive sacrifice of Christ, points to this love, which seeks to restore the fallen, renew the broken, and draw all creation into divine life. In this reflection, we will explore the nature of God's transforming love, grounding it in Scripture, Catechesis, and Church teaching, while reflecting on its impact on the human heart.

The Divine Initiative: God’s Love in Creation

From the beginning, God's love is the source of all creation. The Book of Genesis recounts how God spoke the universe into existence, creating the world out of love and calling it good (cf. Genesis 1:31). Humanity, created in the image and likeness of God (cf. Genesis 1:27), is the pinnacle of this divine act. It is here that we first glimpse the profound dignity and value that God places upon every human being. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches, “Man occupies a unique place in creation: he is ‘in the image of God’” (CCC 356).

Despite humanity's fall into sin, God’s love remained unshaken. His plan of salvation unfolded through the covenants He made with His people—each one an invitation to deeper relationship, and each one revealing His desire to transform hearts and restore humanity to its original dignity.

The Ultimate Expression: Christ’s Sacrificial Love

God’s transformative love reaches its summit in the person of Jesus Christ. As St. John writes, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). The Incarnation is the ultimate revelation of divine love, where God entered into human history, not merely to teach, but to offer Himself completely for the salvation of the world.

The cross stands as the greatest testament to this love. In Jesus’ passion, we see a love that does not count the cost, a love that is willing to suffer and die to redeem sinners. St. Paul affirms this transformative love when he writes, “God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). This act of self-emptying love is what restores our relationship with God, breaking the chains of sin and opening the door to new life in the Spirit.

The Catechism reflects on this profound mystery: “The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the ‘one mediator between God and men’” (CCC 618). Through the cross, Jesus transformed the curse of sin into the blessing of salvation, offering every person the possibility of sharing in His divine life.

Love That Heals and Restores:

God’s love is not only sacrificial but also healing and restorative. Throughout the Gospels, we see how Jesus, moved by compassion, healed the sick, forgave sins, and restored broken lives. The healing of the woman with the hemorrhage (cf. Mark 5:25-34) is a powerful example of how Jesus’ love goes beyond physical healing; it restores dignity, breaks barriers, and brings about true spiritual renewal.

The Catechism teaches us that this love continues to work through the Sacraments: “The Sacraments are ‘powers that come forth’ from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church” (CCC 1116). Through the Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist and Reconciliation, God’s love continuously renews and transforms us, healing the wounds of sin and drawing us deeper into the life of grace.

Transformed for Mission: Love that Sends

God’s love does not simply transform individuals for their own sake—it calls and commissions them to be agents of transformation in the world. The Great Commission, where Jesus commands His disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19), is the natural outflow of a heart transformed by divine love.

The Second Vatican Council emphasizes this missionary dimension of love: “The Church…exists in order to evangelize, that is, to preach and teach, to be the channel of the gift of grace” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, 14). Every Christian, renewed by the love of God, is called to witness to that love through acts of mercy, justice, and compassion. As St. Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Love cannot remain by itself—it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service.”

Living in God’s Transforming Love:

What, then, does it mean to live in God’s transforming love? First and foremost, it requires a response—a radical openness to the grace and love that God offers. We must allow ourselves to be shaped and molded by the Holy Spirit, surrendering our fears, doubts, and attachments to the world. As St. Paul exhorts, “Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God” (Romans 12:2).

In living this love, we are called to reflect the same mercy and forgiveness we have received. Jesus’ command to “love one another as I have loved you” (John 13:34) is a call to radical self-giving love—a love that forgives without limit, serves without seeking reward, and gives without expecting anything in return.

Conclusion: A Love That Makes All Things New

God’s transforming love is the most powerful force in existence. It is a love that created the world, redeemed it through the cross, and continues to renew it through the work of the Holy Spirit. For those who open their hearts to this love, nothing remains the same—lives are changed, wounds are healed, and new possibilities emerge.

Let us then, in the words of St. John Paul II, “open wide the doors to Christ” and allow His love to transform us. As we are transformed, may we become bearers of that love to a world that so desperately needs it, living witnesses of God’s unchanging and life-giving love.