September 19th’s Epistle reading (Galatians 2:16-20) makes it clear that we cannot earn God's love. By grace, God's love is freely given to us, and by grace, we are called to freely give our love to others. Christ instructs us, "You received without payment; give without payment” (Matthew 10:8).
Unfortunately, in our fallen and broken state, we wrongly believe that people have to merit human dignity. We are deluded, and so we struggle to show ourselves worthy of consideration by our peers and our God. Because we think that kindness and charity are rewards given to those who prove themselves useful, we treat others in a detached and utilitarian way, including and especially those who should be closest to our hearts. This is cruel, and it's the cause of self-loathing and so many evils in the world.
But St. Mark the Ascetic writes, "The sign of sincere love is to forgive wrongs done to us. It was with such love that the Lord loved the world." Forgiveness is key. This forgiving, self-sacrificing love is very different from a self-serving human version of 'love' that demands reciprocation, that insists on debt. St. Mark points out, "He who does something good and expects a reward is serving not God but his own will." On the Cross, Christ gave us a new, better, unselfish way to love. Only divine love that forgives all wrongs can save us, and it is this divine love, exemplified by Christ and flowing from his heart into our hearts, that makes us worthy of every good thing. Only divine love can empower and equip us for good deeds that truly sanctify us and help others. Anything else simply increases our debts and resentments.
And that is why we pray:
"My most merciful and all-merciful God, Lord Jesus Christ, through thy great love thou didst come down and take flesh to save all (Matthew 23:37; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; 1 John 2.2; 2 Peter 3:9; Ezekiel 18:23, 33:11). And again, O Savior, save me by thy grace, I pray thee, for if thou shouldst save me for my works, this would not be grace or a gift, but rather a duty (Ephesians 2:8-9). Indeed, in thine infinite compassion and unspeakable mercy, thou, O my Christ, hast said: 'Whoever believes in me shall live and never see death' (John 11:26) If faith in thee saves the desperate, save me, for thou art my God and Creator (Luke 8:40-56). Impute my faith instead of deeds, O my God, for thou wilt find no deeds which could justify me, but may my faith suffice for all my deeds (Romans 4:1-7; Galatians 5:4; 2 Timothy 1:8-10). May it answer for and acquit me, and may it make me a partaker of thine eternal glory (2 Peter 1:3-4). And may Satan not seize me, O Word, and boast that he has torn me from thy hand and fold (John 17:12). O Christ my Savior, whether I will or not, save me (Romans 9:15-18). Make haste, quick, quick, for I perish! Thou art my God from my mother's womb (Psalm 22:10). Grant me, O Lord, to love thee now as once I loved sin and also to work for thee without idleness, as I worked before for deceptive Satan (1 Peter 4:8). But supremely shall I work for thee, my Lord and God, Jesus Christ, all the days my life, now and ever and unto ages of ages (Ephesians 2:1-10). Amen.”