Today’s Readings:
Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 96:1-3, 10-13
Matthew 18:12-14
Love means a lot to us and we struggle with the idea of “the one”. We want to love and be loved in such a way that their love completes us. We want to join the conversation of friends and flaunt that one person who has added colour to our lives. But the frustration that results from our attempts at love is evident in songs and stories about heartbreak (“las, everybody go chop breakfast”). Our yearning for love is real but the place we are looking for it is an illusion.
So many people are unhappy today because they have yet to find “the one”. Is there one true love? Yes, there is but no, it is not a human being. While people can fall out of love for something as flimsy as a romantic message from their partner to someone else, only one person loves you in any condition and remains in love with you even when you do not love yourself.
Can you describe His love?
He is the one who came from heaven and took our human nature so that He can clothe us in His divine nature.
He suffered and died for our sins so that by shedding his blood, He has redeemed the whole world.
He is the one who loved us and died for us while we were yet sinners.
He grants us rest when we sleep at night and wakes us to the joy of a new day.
He knows every good and bad thing we ever did and still does, yet He does not condemn or reject us (we are not so patient with ourselves or others).
He lifts the burden of sin off our backs and grants us forgiveness in the sacrament of confession.
He rose from the dead and gave us the power to be children of God.
He has ascended into heaven and taken his seat at the Father’s right hand and continues to plead for our forgiveness.
He has given us his mother (The Blessed Virgin Mary) as our mediator with Him.
He has given us the authority to trample snakes and scorpions and every other evil on earth and establish His kingdom of righteousness wherever we find ourselves.
He believes in you more than you believe in yourself.
He abandons the ninety-nine sheep that do not need saving to save us.
He has prepared an eternal mansion for you more exquisite than anything you can ever think of or imagine.
He is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. He has also given us the strength to love others with the same love He has for us. We cannot love others adequately if his love is not in us. Perhaps, this is the reason we are frustrated in our attempts to either love or be loved by others. Ask God today to give you the grace to fix your gaze on Him. Pray for strength to give Him his rightful place in your life and He will restore order to your life and all your relationships.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud: Father, thank you for Jesus Christ. Forgive my sins, take control of my heart and lead me in your righteous path by the power of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You, Lord. Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident pastor or priest.
Prayer:
O Lord, Your love exceeds all that we know and all that we can imagine. Fill our hearts with the realisation that no one can ever take Your place in our lives and strengthen us to love others with the same unconditional love that You have shown to us. Amen.
Lord Jesus Christ, You are my one true love. Help me to love You unconditionally and love others as You have loved me. Amen.
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