How Does In God's Love relate to the Catholic Church?

How does In God's Love 
written by Janet Hurlow
relate to 
the Catholic Faith ?

  Chapter 9  We Live in Christ and God's Spirit Dwells in Us

                      Section 1 God Chose Us

425          God chooses us.  God is the Father of all; therefore all creation is His.   The messengers assert that “Nothing is created without God’s Spirit… God is your God, and you are His people.  Reach Him on Earth, and never depart from such a being as your Father.”(1)   The covenantal phrase “I will be your God and you will be my people” is one with deep Scriptural roots as it occurs throughout Scripture.(2)   The messengers assert that not only are humans His people, but they are His people too: “In this song is the whole creation of God’s Spirit.  This is our God forever and ever.  He is our God, and we are His people.”(3)   The messengers urge us to realize that this love that God has for us, His people, is real: “He (God) wants you to know that you are worthwhile, and He loves you very much.  God is your God, and you are His people.”(4)

426           It has been mentioned that it is the Holy Spirit who unifies all of the Saints in creation.(5)    God is forever our God and we can be forever His people because God’s Spirit lives within the children of God.  The messengers write, “Come, children of God, in God’s Spirit, live forever.  He is your God, and you are His people.”(6)   There are some who are foolish and turn the Holy Spirit away, but others are wise and seek God.  The messengers write, “Such sorrow comes to those who turn the Holy Spirit away….The wise shall seek God, and He shall be their God, and they shall be His people.”(7)  

427           Scripture proclaims, “We love because he first loved us.”(8)   The Catechism asserts that “The merit of man before God in the Christian life arises from the fact that God has freely chosen to associate man with the work of his grace.  The fatherly action of God is first on his own initiative, and then follows man's free acting through his collaboration, so that the merit of good works is to be attributed in the first place to the grace of God, then to the faithful.”(9)   The Catechism asserts that our faith is a response to God’s revelation among us, for God is the initiator of the friendship with each one of us.(10)      

428           First, God chooses us.   As the messengers write, “Blessed are those who are in God’s Spirit.  God’s own, chosen race.”(11)   They elaborate on this choosing with a beautiful quote we  mentioned before: “What a wonderful Father you have.  He chose you to be His adopted child.  What a marvelous gift.  Blessings of life are sent to you from God.  He did not have to choose you to receive this gift.  He could have chosen another being of His choosing, but He didn’t.  He chose you to share in His delights.  You are so precious.  You are so wanted.  Why were you chosen?  Why did God choose you?  He chose you because He wanted you.  He wanted you to live forever and share in His gifts and mysteries of eternal life.”(12)   The messengers reflect upon this friendship: “You have been chosen by God to fit into a special plan.  This is mankind’s desire.  This is His plan.  It is so beautiful.  He calls you, ‘friend.’(13)   The messengers express that they are joined with us who have been chosen by God: “Seen are the saints who love our God, and our spirits are with these saints who are God’s chosen vessels.”(14)   Individually and as a race, to be chosen by God is the first step in the covenantal relationship capsulated by the Biblical refrain, “I will be your God and you will be my people.”

                      Section 2 Christians
 
429           Christians are people who are in Christ Jesus.  The messengers identify Christians as those who are “in Christ”: “Dear ones in Christ Jesus, we are pleased with your spirits.  You have loved with a love that has pleased your God.  No other people on the Earth have been as faithful as those who call themselves Christians.”(15)   They mention that Christians are blessed with comfort in this life on Earth: “You are in such rest and care because your sign is with you.  Reach, beloved of Earth. Songs of comfort bless all who are in Christ.”(16)   They also mention the release of Satan for Christians after our death: “Sing and be glad, all you in Christ.  You are the blessed.  You have fought a good fight.  Satan is no more in your spirit.”(17)  

                      Section 3 God’s Spirit Moves in His Children
 
430           Earlier in Chapter 2, we addressed a layer of the essence of God’s Holy Spirit, rather than the effect of the spirit, something like exploring the wind itself, and not the effect or force of the wind.  Now we look at the Holy Spirit’s interaction and effect on us. 

431           The messengers assert that God’s spirit is reached through Christ Jesus: “Blessings in God’s Spirit on all who are in Christ Jesus.”(18)   “Dear ones in Christ Jesus, we are pleased with your spirits …. His very Spirit moves in these small beings.”(19)    They encourage us: “Bring your spirits in communion with Christ Jesus.  This is Earth’s love song to a sacred God who waits with such tenderness.  In this love song, sung on Earth, is God’s Spirit reached.  Under the sun of Earth, virtue comes when saints are in Christ’s body.”(20)

432           The messengers repeatedly declare that God’s Spirit rests in the children of God.  They state, “Seen are the children of God in God’s Spirit.”(21)   They also state that “Saints on Earth, rest in God’s Spirit.”(22)  They elaborate further by writing, “This is God’s very Spirit who sings in the spirit of the Saints.  In such quietness, sings so gently in such inspirational music….Rest in God’s Spirit, wise, little ones of God.”(23)

433          The messengers hold that the Spirit of God is in the hearts of children of God.  We proclaim during the Mass Celebrating Pentecost, “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in them the fire of your love.”(24)   The messengers also proclaim that the Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts: “Real is your life in God’s Spirit.  Real is God’s Spirit in the hearts of Earth saints.”(25)   

434           The Spirit of God bathes our souls and joins our spirit.  The messengers state, “God’s Spirit in the souls of the saints is such beauty as mankind has never seen.”(26)   Very descriptively, they write that “God radiates His Spirit through the spirits of His saints.”(27)   They also describe this joining of spirits in a gentle way: “Kind and gentle is the Spirit of God in your spirit.  Very restful is the song of life in such beauty.  The Holy Spirit bathes your soul with soft light and fragrant flowers.”(28)  

435           The poor are in the spirit of God.  They write, “Blessed is the God who comforts the poor saints of Earth, such little ones who see no comforts on Earth except in the Spirit of God.”(29) 

436           The messengers proclaim that God’s spirit and blessings are in those who love Him: “God’s Spirit is dwelling here.  His Spirit is dwelling in the heart of souls who believe in Him and love Him.”(30)   Furthermore they write, “Blessings are upon those who are in God’s Spirit, those who have loved God with all of their heart, soul and mind and loved each other.  His blessings are upon His children on Earth.”(31)   They confirm that “His (God’s) Spirit sings so well to men of Earth who stay in His love.”(32)  

437           As mentioned earlier(33) they hold that all who are in the Spirit of God are united in that Spirit.  As St. Cyril, cited in the Catechism, explains, “’For just as the power of Christ's sacred flesh unites those in whom it dwells into one body, I think that in the same way the one and undivided Spirit of God, who dwells in all, leads all into spiritual unity. <133>’”(34)   The messengers likewise proclaim that “In God’s Spirit, the children of God are one.  In God’s Spirit, united in a common bond in God’s love.”(35)   Furthermore, “Each blessed spirit of God in all God’s making is one vessel in God’s Spirit.  Children of Earth, children of the Cosmos, in one Spirit, rest.”(36)

438           The Spirit of God gives us understanding.  The messengers state that “As God reaches, His Spirit moves in saints who come to understanding.”(37)   Furthermore they write, “Righteous wisdom is a spirit sent to all who stay very close to God”(38)  
 
439           This Spirit that gives us understanding also enables us to grow in holiness.  According to the Apostle Paul, cited in the Catechism, "’we live by the Spirit’; the more we renounce ourselves, the more we ‘walk by the Spirit.’ <130>”(39)   The messengers explain that our growth in holiness happens because of the Holy Spirit: “In Earth saints, there are many faults.  Such faults are seen as man grows in God’s Spirit.”(40)   Both the Church and the messengers hold that the Spirit of God dwells in the children of God. 
 
                      Section 4 God’s Children are in God’s Love
 
440           As the people of God, we are greeted at the Eucharistic liturgy with “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all."(41)   The messengers assert that those who are in God’s love are His people: “Righteous saints who are in God’s love, rest….God is your God, and you are His people forever.”(42)  

441           The messengers tell us we are to sign our name in God’s love.  They state, “Very spirits of Earth, sign your name in God’s love.”(43)   For me, the exact theological ramifications of this phrase are uncertain, but a name is symbolic of the whole person, as God’s name is symbolic of God, and therefore, is to be treated with honor.  I understand it to mean that we are to place our name, place our life, in God’s love.

442           We are to desire the love of God. According to the Gospel of John, Jesus says, “Whoever has My commandments and observes them is the one who loves Me.  And whoever loves Me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him."(44)   The messengers echo this with “The Father sends His love to very blessed souls who spend all their time doing God’s will.  Take God’s gifts, Earth children.”(45)   The messengers urge us to search out the love of God and keep His commandments: “In this love is life.  Reach. Seek no less.  Speak to Him.  Ask Him to teach you of this love, and, in His teaching, you shall find God.  Never shall you look back or wish to separate yourself from His teachings.”(46)

443           The messengers hold that, when we rest in God’s love, our spirits will be like the angels and our spirits will be at peace: “Each spirit who is in God’s love has a spirit as the angels and saints in Heaven do.”(47)  

444           The peace that we all long for is only found in God’s love: “This peace is only found in the spirit of those who love God.  Peace must start with God’s love.”(48)   The messengers express that the promise of peace in God’s love is obtained only by loving God above all else.  They state, “Peace is with all who live in God’s love.  This is God’s way, and you who place God above Earth’s gifts shall come to enjoy all things in peace.  Each spirit of God’s spirit is such.”(49)   They express with comfort that “God blesses all who reach out for His love.  In God’s love, find peace.  In God’s love is all peace.”(50)   They elaborate on the peace by writing, “Come, rest your weary souls in God’s love.  So sacred is God’s love.  It is a quiet place where Earth children long to be in wondrous beauty, in peaceful meadows, in soft morning light, in inspiring music, in peaceful, cool places where flowers bloom, in quiet places where candles glow.”(51)   Both the Church and the messengers encourage us to love God and to remain in God’s love.

                      Section 5 Summary

445           As in the previous Chapters, a vast number of the theological statements are the same as the Catholic Church and even expressed in the same manner.   Our loving God chooses us first in the covenant of being our God and we being His people forever.  Wise people, who are God’s people, respond to this love, follow God’s commandments, and remain in God’s love, which gives them peace.  The Spirit of God enables us to grow spiritually.  The Spirit of God gives God’s love to us by dwelling in the hearts of those who love God.  Christians are in Christ and are blessed with God’s spirit.  The poor are in the Spirit of God.  We should desire God’s love and place it above all other things, then, in God’s love, we will find peace.

446           One could perhaps argue that some of the above could go in this next list or vice versa.  The following are theological and moral statements that agree with the Tradition of the Catholic Church, but things are expressed differently, or perhaps taken a little further than we have traveled with our doctrine.  The Spirit of God is kind and gentle on our soul.  Could we imagine it being otherwise?  God radiates His Spirit through the spirits of His saints.  We often express the hope that people will see God’s spirit acting in us, but I do not know if it has ever been expressed in quite this way.  Our spirits will be like the Angels and saints in heaven when we rest in God’s love.  This expresses the Catholic belief that in heaven we will not become a different being, but rather our spirits will become more of what we are, only holier.  While I am not quite sure what “sign you name in God’s love” means, I do not see how it would be in contraction to the faith.  Finally, the assertion that they, too, are people of God is not a difficulty when we ourselves proclaim that all who call God, Father, are our brother and sister.  It is just that we have not been formally introduced to our relatives, who share the Spirit of God, yet.

  The next section in Part One   Chapter 10 We Live to Love God