>>I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it. It is… shopping. I’ve learned to do the grocery shopping and I’ve come to, ah, kind of appreciate it and like it better. Because now, at least I know where to find things in the different isles at the jewel where I shop. But one of the things that I know I’m going to have to look for, or shop for is a new cell phone. And I don’t look forward to that and worse I don’t look forward to the little manual that will come with it and having to read it to find out what all these features are that will be with the updated phone.

So, I don’t hate it, but I don’t love it. It is shopping. And I think about myself and think technology is not one of my favorite things. It’s a shortcoming, if you will, that I find in myself and I don’t like all of it. And all of us have some things about ourselves that we find as shortcomings.

Well, today in the readings and in this gospel particularly there is great news. And that is that God does not look at any of those shortcomings in us.

We hear these powerful and beautiful words: God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but rather to save it through Him.

And so, God does not look at our shortcomings. The good news that we hear is that God so loved us, He sent His son. We are created in love. We are created in the image and likeness of God and that can never be changed. None of our shortcomings could ever change that powerful fact. We are created in God’s image and love.

Now friends, I know that in our world still today there’s a lot of isolation. There’s a lot of loneliness. There’s still so much uncertainty and fear and anxiety. And it’s to all of this that God reminds us we are God’s beloved and when we hold onto that. When we trust it, when we believe it there can be joy in our hearts and there is hope and there is strength.

And so, what I’d ask you to think about today is not your shortcomings, but rather how much God loves you. For you are God’s beloved. If you’re feeling isolated or alone or fearful or uncertain take some time today and in the week ahead and spend time just reminding yourself you are God’s beloved. And with that good news comes inner peace and a renewed sense of strength and hope.

You are God’s beloved.