Episode 2467: I am sent not only to love God - Morning Episode

Today, we will focus on a theme central to the Christian life: our call not only to love God but to share that love with others. St. Vincent de Paul reminds us, “I am sent not only to love God but to make Him loved. It is not enough for me to love God, if my neighbor does not love Him.” This mission to make God loved is at the heart of our Christian vocation. It is not enough to live out our faith privately; we must also be a beacon of God's love to others.
In this episode, we will reflect on how this call to love extends beyond our personal relationship with God and into our responsibility to bring others closer to Him. We'll also explore how God's infinite goodness assures us that His power is always used for our ultimate good, and how our struggles, though temporary, lead to eternal glory.
The Call to Make God Loved
St. Vincent de Paul, known for his charity and love for the poor, understood that our love for God must overflow into our relationships with others. When he said, “I am sent not only to love God but to make Him loved,” he captured the essence of the Great Commission that Jesus gave His disciples in Matthew 28:19-20: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
Our faith is not meant to be kept to ourselves. It is a gift that we are called to share with the world. Love for God naturally leads to a desire to see others come to know and love Him as well. This is the foundation of evangelization spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ, not merely in word but through our actions and the witness of our lives.
St. Vincent de Paul’s life was a powerful testament to this. He didn’t just preach about loving God; he lived it out by serving the poor and marginalized, showing them the love of Christ through his deeds. For us, this means that our love for God must be active. It should manifest in our relationships, our work, and our everyday interactions. Every moment becomes an opportunity to make God loved by others.
God’s Infinite Goodness and Power
In order to effectively share God’s love with others, we must first understand and trust in His nature. Matt Fradd, a Catholic apologist, explains that in God, there is no distinction between His goodness and His power: “God is infinite being itself...and there is no way God can misuse His power for evil because He is, by definition, good.” This truth gives us confidence in God’s perfect plan for our lives, even when we face difficulties or don’t understand His ways.
Because we are fallen creatures, we often misuse the power we are given, but God is free from this flaw. He is absolute goodness, and His power is always used for our ultimate benefit. This understanding should fill us with hope and assurance that God’s actions in our lives are always aimed at our salvation, even when we cannot see the full picture.
As St. Paul writes in Romans 8:28, “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.” Trusting in God’s goodness allows us to approach Him with confidence and share His love with others, knowing that He is always working for the good of those who love Him.
The Eternal Weight of Glory
In our mission to make God loved, we will undoubtedly face challenges. Yet, St. Paul encourages us not to be discouraged by these trials, reminding us in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18: “Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.”
These words provide a powerful perspective on the struggles we encounter in life. Our trials are temporary, but the glory that awaits us is eternal. When we focus on the unseen—the eternal truths of our faith and the promise of heaven—our difficulties take on new meaning. They become opportunities for growth, purification, and a deeper union with God.
As we share God’s love with others, we may face rejection, misunderstandings, or even persecution. But these sufferings are not in vain. They are preparing us for a glory that far surpasses anything this world can offer. With this hope in our hearts, we can persevere in our mission to make God loved, trusting that every effort we make for His kingdom will bear fruit in eternity.
Conclusion
Today, we have reflected on the profound call to not only love God but to make Him loved by others. Inspired by the words of St. Vincent de Paul, we recognize that our Christian faith compels us to reach out to our neighbors, sharing the love and goodness of God in both word and deed. We also explored the comforting truth that God’s infinite goodness ensures that His power is always used for our ultimate good, and that our momentary struggles are preparing us for eternal glory.

As we go forward, let us remember that our mission is not just to grow in our personal relationship with God but to be instruments of His love in the world. By trusting in God’s goodness and keeping our eyes fixed on the eternal promises of our faith, we can confidently fulfill this mission, knowing that every act of love brings us closer to the heart of God.
Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your love, which You so freely pour out upon us. Help us to grow in our love for You, and give us the courage and grace to share that love with others. May we always trust in Your goodness, knowing that You are working all things for our good. Strengthen us in our mission to make You loved by all, and grant us the perseverance to endure the trials we face in this life, with our hearts set on the glory that awaits us in eternity.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.