We love, because God loves us!

January 10, 2019

Thursday after Epiphany

1 John 4: 19- 5:4; Luke 4: 14-22

Can we notice that we began this week as a preparation towards the Lord's baptism, but day after day the Word is speaking to us of love? Is it surprising? No, it is in order! Yes, baptism is all about our identity and the crux of the identity that we receive as baptised, as children of God is LOVE.

To love, is not an extraordinary quality for us sons and daughters of God who is love; love has to be our essential nature! The fundamental question is not whether I am ready to love or not; it is whether I am a Christian or not! If I am a Christ-ian, then love has to be my second nature. Where there is no love, there is no God...where there is no God, there is no Spiritual life! True spirituality is true love.

The correlation of two readings bring out to us an all important point: to love is a charism given by the Spirit to each of us; to love is a commitment on behalf of my neighbour. That difficulties and sacrifices are involved, is a matter of fact. But that in no way can take away the call that I have: to love. 

And why should we love? Not because it is easy to do. Not because it gives us pleasure, as the world miscalculates today. Not because it creates a situation of peace and tranquility, then we are using love as a means. We love because God loved us, God loves us and God always loves us! When we don't love the other, we not only hate them, but we conceal ourselves from the love of God, which flows freely towards you and me! Yes... it has to be our nature to love. We love because God loves us!