LOVING THE DEAD INTO LIFE

"Beloved, let us love one another because love is of God." —1 John 4:7

Jesus loves us as God the Father loves Him (Jn 15:9). Jesus reveals the Father's love so that we will accept that love and make love the very atmosphere in which we live (Jn 15:10). Then, after first being loved (1 Jn 4:19), we can love one another (Jn 15:17) even as Christ has loved us (Jn 15:12) and lay down our lives in love even for our enemies (Rm 5:8; 1 Jn 3:16).

"Love, then, consists in this: not that we have loved God but that He has loved us and has sent His Son as an Offering for our sins" (1 Jn 4:10). We can live the miracle of crucified, unconditional love because we have love, given by the Father, revealed by Jesus, and poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5). Many people are love-bankrupt. They are trying to give what they don't have. We don't need more love from God. His love is perfect and infinite. What we need is a greater awareness of being loved by our Father. Then we will have love enough to love even a whole culture of death and thereby transform it into a civilization of love and life.

Prayer: Father God, Who is Love, give me the grace to accept Your love which never fails (1 Cor 13:8).

Promise: "The Holy Spirit descended upon all who were listening to Peter's message." —Acts 10:44

Praise: Praise the risen Jesus, Who baptizes us in the Holy Spirit! (Mk 1:8)