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This is a very popular reading at funerals because of the hope that it brings to those who are grieving. It should also give us hope in knowing that God will always love us, as a loving Father, even when we don’t love him back. God’s love is unconditional. God can never love us more, no matter how many good deeds we do; and God can love us less even when we turn away. What he does, is keep loving us until we turn back to him. I can remember a time when one of my children was sixteen and not living as I would like her to live. She was sitting there yelling at me and telling me that she hated me. Nothing that hasn’t been said to most parents at one time of another! I told her that I loved her and always would, but I didn’t like her or what she was doing and that maybe in another ten years or so, we’d both like each other again! Fortunately, it didn’t take that long! I never gave up on her or any of my other children even though there were times when I felt like tearing my hair out! If I can love my children even when they aren’t very lovable, then God, who is perfect love, will never stop loving us. Once we realize the immensity of God’s love it is almost impossible not to respond and work to become worthy of that love. If my imperfect child can respond to the love of an imperfect mother, then we can certainly respond to the love of a perfect Father, imperfect as we are.Prayer: Loving God, you never give up on us. Your love is always there for us calling us back to you and reminding us that nothing will ever separate us from you and your love. Amen.