“I love You, O Lord.” —Psalm 18:2
God is Love (1 Jn 4:8, 16). Because He is Love, we are in the image of Love, for we were created in His image (Gn 1:27). Because He is Love, our sins against Him are very serious — so serious that the nature of all human beings was wounded due to the first sin. Because He is Love, God gave us the opportunity to become new creations (see Jn 3:3, 5; Gal 6:15) by giving us His Son (Jn 3:16). Because God is Love, He became a man to die on the cross and rise from the dead for our salvation. Love became flesh (see Jn 1:14). Love had nails driven through Him and thorns pressed into Him. Love became a bloody mess, brutally rejected and gasping for breath. Love was buried; Love rose; and Love is enthroned in heaven forever.
Because Love first loved us, we love Love (1 Jn 4:19). By His grace, we love Love with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength (Lk 10:27; Mt 22:37). We love Love by loving ourselves, our neighbors (Mt 22:37-39), and even our enemies (Mt 5:44). We live in Love (Jn 15:10). Love LOVE.
PRAYER: Lord and Love, may I live in You and You in me (1 Jn 4:16).
PROMISE: “You turned to God from idols, to serve Him Who is the living and true God and to await from heaven the Son He raised from the dead — Jesus, Who delivers us from the wrath to come.” —1 Thes 1:9-10
PRAISE: Praise You, risen Jesus. You live and reign forevermore! All glory belongs to You.
(From a reflection by a member of the editorial team of the late Fr Al Lauer’s Presentation Ministries)
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John Portelli
