The Kiss of God

It was a cozy, chatty, pre-dinner cocktail conversation – just the newlyweds, with myself as the invited dinner guest in their living room. He was an open, warm, and ebullient person; she was gracious, but somewhat shy and reserved. Their mutual love was obvious, so my question-to-make-conversation was not out of place. “How did you two meet?” I queried.

“Would you believe it?” said Dave. “It was at an art auction, and we found ourselves bidding against each other. Of course, I won the bid,” he smiled, “but I also won her as my wife. We dated for a year, but she wouldn’t let me even kiss her until the wedding ceremony.”

I opined that it was her retaliation for his having won the auction bid. We laughed together, as Janet blushed and started for the kitchen to serve the meal. But calling after her to make sure she heard, he teased, “but after I got the first kiss, the rest came easy!”

The young bride turned at the kitchen door long enough to cast a blushing smile at her chuckling spouse. Enough had been said for me to discern that this young man relished his victory; he had found the way to Janet’s heart, though it took a year of self-control and patient love. But once he found how to reach her heart, it was forever open to him.

As I recalled that moment of light-hearted chitchat, it occurred to me that the same dynamic is found in God’s design for us in pursuing our creature-Creator love relationship – the ultimate purpose of our very existence. It plays a part not only in the overall process of sanctification, but also in each step along the way to that goal of perfect union with God as we more and more abide in his love.

Each step of growth in holiness involves an attempt to encounter God in his love: we are drawn by the subtle magnetism of his grace, which “teases” us into a persevering pursuit. Eventually in a breakthrough of grace, the Lord kisses our soul with a tender touch of love before enticing us to the next step of the fascinating pursuit. The succinct exhortation of James says it all: “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (Jas 4:8). This dynamic is articulated more negatively – and facetiously – In a bumper-sticker sermonette: “If you feel far from God, guess who moved!”

Christians soon become aware that abiding in God’s love must follow a Christic pattern: “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 Jn 2:6). We must learn to “live a life of love, just as Christ loved us” (Eph 5:2). Only in this way will we “in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is Christ” (Eph 4:15).

In retrospect, we might see that perhaps our first step began with a simple spirituality, epitomized by the unsophisticated ditty, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

With that foothold in kindergarten spirituality, we advance to the next stage where, “no longer infants” (Eph 4:!4), we enjoy a more vigorous and athletic spirituality, “straining toward what is ahead” (Phil 3:13). At this stage, we also come to know and use the spiritual “supports” our Lord gives us for the race.

In our third stage of growth, we come to appreciate the compassion and support of the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles” (2 Cor 1:4). In the midst of the storms of life – the potholes, pitfalls, and panic – God guides us to a safe harbor, though he does not always calm the storm itself.

In our fourth stage, we find God’s love spilling into our hearts with such abundance that it simply overflows to those around us, as we spontaneously become “devoted to one another in brotherly love, honoring one another” (Rom 12:10). This love, the fruit of the spirit, spills forth in many forms from our hearts to all God’s precious people. At this stage we come to experience in a profound degree what St. Augustine calls the primary characteristic of love, namely, “the liquefaction of the heart.” That is, Spirit-melted hearts tend to “liquefy,” spreading God’s love to those around them. The “fluidly” of love makes it ever more penetrating into its environment.

In the upcoming unpretentious articles, I will attempt to outline a four-part plan of action to lead you through each of these four stages in attaining union with God in love. The individual articles are certainly not meant to be an exhaustive list of techniques for attaining holiness. Rather, they are merely generically representative of countless possible approaches for fostering God’s love in our souls, in response to his magnanimous love for each of us.

With all this in mind, let us take up our walking sticks and launch into the great adventure of a lifelong “walk with the Lord.” For the person of good will, every step taken in sincerity will lead heavenward (see 1 Corinthians 15:58). Along the way, stop occasionally to relax contemplatively and enjoy the tender embrace and kiss of your divine companion – the God of love.

This excerpt is from the book The Art of Loving God by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications, 1995. This and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/visual materials can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408.