I've often heard priests preach on the main theme of today's reading from the Acts of the apostles, where we see Peter telling, "God has no favourites." Really? But the whole history of the world and recorded testaments of religious show that God does have favourites: he chose Israel over other nations, did all those wonders and miracles for them, restored them their land, guided them and led them through the centuries, then when he wanted to send his son, he again chose the same Israelites. Not only that even among them he had the tribe of Judah as the favourite. When Jesus came on earth, he chose the twelve as apostles, and among them John was cited 'as beloved' of the Master.
However, that can be said to be one side of the story. Viewed from God's side (if we may), I think God loves all. That's it. He isn't loving one more than the other. But those who experience his love and are moved by that, feel privileged. Those who feel that 'others' are privileged, often fail to see how blessed they themselves are! But we always calculate our blessings on the basis of what we do not have rather than what we have! Or worse, on the basis of what other have and I do not!
The danger is when those who feel 'privileged' or are seen by others as 'privileged' start to act differently. Those who honestly experience God's love, will not differentiate or discriminate, least of all, look down on others. They'd prefer to share that privilege in their own way with others, joyfully.
So it is right to say that God has no favourites? Perhaps the better way to say it is that God loves us and I am his favourite!
However, that can be said to be one side of the story. Viewed from God's side (if we may), I think God loves all. That's it. He isn't loving one more than the other. But those who experience his love and are moved by that, feel privileged. Those who feel that 'others' are privileged, often fail to see how blessed they themselves are! But we always calculate our blessings on the basis of what we do not have rather than what we have! Or worse, on the basis of what other have and I do not!
The danger is when those who feel 'privileged' or are seen by others as 'privileged' start to act differently. Those who honestly experience God's love, will not differentiate or discriminate, least of all, look down on others. They'd prefer to share that privilege in their own way with others, joyfully.
So it is right to say that God has no favourites? Perhaps the better way to say it is that God loves us and I am his favourite!
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