Today I would like to offer you something different. This is part of an encyclical. When I first read it I thought that I could not express in better words what I feel God has done in my life. I really hope you know (or will know one day) what I mean.

It is not science that redeems man: man is redeemed by love. This applies even in terms of this present world. When someone has the experience of a great love in his life, this is a moment of “redemption” which gives a new meaning to his life. But soon he will also realize that the love bestowed upon him cannot by itself resolve the question of his life. It is a love that remains fragile. It can be destroyed by death. The human being needs unconditional love. He needs the certainty which makes him say: “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:38- 39). If this absolute love exists, with its absolute certainty, then—only then—is man “redeemed”, whatever should happen to him in his particular circumstances. This is what it means to say: Jesus Christ has “redeemed” us. Through him we have become certain of God. (Spe Salvi, n.26.)

Rings and symbols.

Do you wear a ring? I have been looking at the ring on my finger all week. Why? Because last weekend I saw a film, “Fireproofmymarriage,” where there is a scene about a ring. A husband has been trying to save a sinking marriage; now he is wounded in hospital; he looks at his ring that is sitting on a side table, and puts it on; the doctor tells him better not because the hand needs to heal. And the answer is “my hand will have to heal with the ring”, when he looks back at his hand it is obvious that he is referring to his marriage; the ring has become for him a symbol of it.

As a consequence, I have been thinking about symbols all week. Small things become very important because they represent for us something else. Have you ever had any item with not much value but that meant a lot for you? A photography, letter, song, music CD …and tried to explain to someone else why is it that is so important? One feels a little irrational trying to explain why a normal thing is so special.

This week I felt odd trying to explain why I wear a ring. It is a reminder of a mutual commitment; but as many words as I was using I could not explain fully what it means for me to look at my finger and remember that I have a very special love in my life. A simple ring makes me taste a love that “is always patient and kind, never jealous, boastful or conceited, always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever comes”. (1Corinthians 13,4-7)
Not bad for a simple ring…