Episode 2583: Loving God and Embracing the Freedom of Detachment - Morning Episode

We are diving into the liberating truths of God’s love and the power of spiritual poverty. As Blessed Angela of Foligno beautifully expresses, “No one can make excuses, because anyone can love God.” This love is available to every soul, no matter its condition or state. God asks only for our love in return, and He gives us the grace to love Him because He first loved us.
We’ll also reflect on the wisdom of Venerable Mary of Agreda, who teaches us that detachment from earthly possessions through voluntary poverty isn’t a loss, but a gain. It’s a way to free ourselves from the heavy burden of worldly distractions, enabling us to embrace the richness of spiritual blessings. Finally, through the words of 1 John, we’ll be reminded of our belonging to Christ, who gives us the discernment to reject the world’s empty promises and live in the freedom of truth.
Loving God Without Excuse
Blessed Angela of Foligno reminds us of a powerful truth: “Anyone can love God.” There is no circumstance, no weakness, no past sin that can prevent a soul from turning to God and offering Him love. Our faith is not about heroic deeds that only a few can perform it is about loving God with our whole heart. And what God asks of us is simple: to love Him in return, because He loves us first.
This love is not limited to the saints or the learned. It is within the grasp of every soul rich or poor, young or old, sinner or saint. Loving God requires no great talent, only the desire to draw near to Him. We can express this love in small acts: moments of prayer, receiving the sacraments, showing kindness to others, or offering our daily struggles to Him. Love is the simplest act, but also the most profound, because it unites us with the heart of God.
Freedom Through Detachment
Venerable Mary of Agreda teaches that voluntary poverty is not about deprivation, but about freedom. “The vow of poverty...is a relief afforded to human infirmity, the liberty of a noble heart to strive after eternal and spiritual blessings.” The world teaches us to seek happiness in wealth and possessions, but these things weigh us down, making us slaves to anxiety and attachment.

Spiritual poverty, on the other hand, is a form of interior freedom. When we detach ourselves from the pursuit of material goods, we find that our hearts are lifted toward God. Poverty of spirit allows us to rest in God's providence, trusting that He will provide all we need. As Mary of Agreda says, this holy poverty opens us to “a most noble enjoyment of all riches” not earthly wealth, but the riches of God’s grace.
The things of this world are fleeting, but the blessings we gain through detachment are eternal. This doesn’t mean that everyone must give away all their possessions, but we are called to live with detachment, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God and meant to be used in service to Him.
Belonging to the One Who Is True
In 1 John 5:19-20, we read: “We know that we belong to God, and the whole world is under the power of the evil one.” This is a stark reminder that the Christian life is a battle. The world tries to draw us away from God, promising happiness in material things, power, and pleasure. But we belong to Christ, who gives us the discernment to see these empty promises for what they are.

“We are in the one who is true,” John writes. To remain in the truth is to remain in Christ, who is the source of eternal life. Through prayer and the sacraments, we draw near to the heart of God and receive the grace to live as His children in a world that has turned away from Him. The more we live in the truth of God's love, the more we recognize that real happiness lies not in accumulating wealth, but in surrendering to God’s will and living in His grace.
Conclusion:
In this episode, we’ve reflected on three interconnected truths: the simplicity of loving God, the freedom found in spiritual poverty, and the joy of belonging to Christ, who is the source of eternal life. Blessed Angela of Foligno assures us that there are no excuses—anyone can love God. Venerable Mary of Agreda teaches us that true wealth is found not in possessions, but in detachment. And St. John reminds us that we are called to live in the truth, rejecting the lies of the world and finding life in Christ.

As we go about our daily lives, let us remember that love is always within our reach, and freedom lies in living according to God’s will. We are children of a loving Father, and He has given us everything we need to live in His grace, if only we surrender ourselves to Him.
Closing Prayer:
Let’s close with a prayer, asking for the grace to love God and live in the freedom of His will:
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your love, which is always present and always available to us. Teach us to love You without hesitation or excuse, knowing that You loved us first. Help us to detach our hearts from the things of this world so that we may find true freedom in You.
Grant us the discernment to reject the lies of the world and live in the truth of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May Your grace be our strength in every trial, and may we always find joy in doing Your will.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thank you for joining us today! Remember, God’s love is always within your reach, and His grace is enough to sustain you in every moment. Choose to love Him today and live in the freedom of His truth. Until next time, God bless!