“For I am convinced and persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, 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.” Romans 8:38-39
If God is love, then the love that we hold for each other is none other than God himself. If we can never be separated from that love, we can never be separated from God despite everything we experience in this life. Things may not always be the same. People might change or leave or pass away. But there is one constant that never leaves… love. Love. Even when love becomes difficult in our grief and separation. We know that the love of God never leaves us. We hear that assurance of God’s love throughout scripture.
Paul lists several things that will never separate us from God’s love. The one thing he does not include in that list is people… yes, he says rulers, but he does not say people or the church. Paul clearly specifies that WE cannot be separated from God’s love. WE cannot be separated because God’s love IS God! God cannot be divided or destroyed or separated. It is God who binds us together with Him in a way that we may not fully understand, but in a way, that we can know that even though separations happen… we are never separated from the love that binds us together. God’s most ultimate solidarity with us calls us to not only be in solidarity with God but to be in solidarity with one another.