Love Transforms Relationships and Social Structures

We are social beings who live in networks of interdependent relationships and social structures. Each person's inherent dignity arises from being created in the image and likeness of God, a God who unconditionally loves all of God's creatures. Since "God is love" (1 Jn 4:8) and we are created in the image and likeness of God, then the innermost essence of our being is also love. Once we recognize and accept this, and allow God's love to transform us, then through love we can begin to also transform the quality of our relationships with others, with our environment, and with the social structures we encounter. As stated in the Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church:

Discovering that they are loved by God, people come to understand their own transcendent dignity, they learn not to be satisfied with only themselves but to encounter their neighbour in a network of relationships that are ever more authentically human. Men and women who are made “new” by the love of God are able to change the rules and the quality of relationships, transforming even social structures. They are people capable of bringing peace where there is conflict, of building and nurturing fraternal relationships where there is hatred, of seeking justice where there prevails the exploitation of [humans] by [humans]. Only love is capable of radically transforming the relationships that [humans] maintain among themselves. This is the perspective that allows every person of good will to perceive the broad horizons of justice and human development in truth and goodness.(No. 4).

Your are invited to take some time to reflect on your understanding of what it means to be created in the image and likeness of God. Do you realize your inherent dignity is graciously given to you by God who unconditionally loves you? It is a dignity and love that can neither be earned nor can it ever be lost. Do you accept that all other humans also have the same inherent dignity and that God unconditionally loves them too? For "Christ is all and in all" (Colossians 3:11). Will you allow God's love to transform you and the quality of your relationships and the social structures you encounter?