Last sun was v-day, overshadowed by CNY, but love's still in the air in this festive season and I came across Novena's church bulletin which had a very good reflective passage on love...enjoy:
GOD = LOVE
LOVE = GOD
John says that “God is love” (1 Jn 4:8). We can reduce this fact to the following equation: God = Love or Love = God. And if we substitute the word “God” whenever we see the word “love”, we came to very interesting results.
Each time we declare to someone “I love you”, we are in effect declaring “I God You”. We are unconsciously declaring that God is in our relationship, and that He is in between us holding us together. What an acknowledgement of the presence and power of God in our marriage, in our family relationships, and in our friendships whenever there is Love.
Also, each time we show an occasional act of love to a stranger, we show God to that person. Amazing power that we have to make God real to another; for someone to experience God when they experience our love.
And when I read today’s 2 nd Reading, I realize that St Paul’s definition of love is actually a wonderful description of God Himself:
God Love is patient, God love is kind. God It does not envy, God it does not boast, God it is not proud. God It is not rude, God it is not self-seeking, God it is not easily angered, God it keeps no record of wrongs. God Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
God Love never fails.
In describing Love as above, St. Paul also tells us that Love is not a feeling or emotion. Love is a decision – an action. So when I decide to be patient with or show kindness to someone, I love. Whenever I am happy with someone’s good fortune, and not think “so unfair, how come I am not that lucky”, I love. Whenever I do not boast or am proud about my successes and accomplishments, I love those who are not as blessed as I am. Whenever I try to be polite, self-less, humble, do not get angry or bear grudges, I love. Whenever I strive to be good and live a life of integrity, I love. In my relationships, if I can nurture, protect, trust, hope and persevere , I love. Like God’s, my love must be faithful and constant. I cannot fail in my love (even if the people we love fail us).
This is tough because it is not easy to love at all times and all people. But if I pray to the God of Love for strength, and try, I can learn to love as God loves. And my reward when I love? God will be with me! (“I God Love” )
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. (I John 3: 18)
Ros
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