june 2005 taken

 

LOVE

1 Jn 4:7-10 Beloved, let us love one another,because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved usand sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Gospel Jn 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in youand your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.You are my friends if you do what I command you.I no longer call you slaves,because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

The law of love the great message of faith: God is love, there is no greater call than to love God and love one another. Jesus says to remain in my love. To love and be loved are the beginning but the journey and call are to continue to live a life daily filled with love from God that is God for all. Christ has chosen us to carry this love within and to give it to all. I am loved and given great love by Christ who chose me to love others as I am loved. God made the first step and it is for me to continue on the path of light and love that gives a peace and completeness that only comes from a life lived in love, compassion, mercy and charity. The selfish needs that raise their head from time to time are diversions, there is no room for selfishness in a total love of God and humankind. I pray that I live my life not as my own but totally in love returned to others and God. It was God who loved me first and still loves me and my return to God of love is a daily renewal of self in Christ.