Over and over in the Bible we are admonished to love not only God but our neighbors and even our enemies. Jesus teaches us this, Paul reiterates it, as does John. It is a continual theme; love. Love your neighbors, no matter what station, ethnicity or faith they are. Love the stranger who has no friends. Love the sick. Love even those who hate you and call you enemy.
This is where the "rubber meets the road" as the saying goes. This is where you show if you have the love of God within you or not. If you don't have love, then examine your heart and your faith crucially, for without abiding in love, you aren't abiding in God. Without love, our deeds and words are "clanging cymbals" making noise without merit.
How can we love those who are radically different than us? How can we love our enemies? How can we fight our human natures that much?
By abiding in Christ. When we live in Christ, even the most difficult becomes possible. We see other people as made in the image of God, as worthy of love simply for who they are. Even those who we dislike can be reached in love because God will aid us in doing so if we really ask Him for such grace. And as we act in love towards our enemies, we find ourselves surprised that we warm towards them, and God works not only in their lives, but in our hearts as well.
The Christian life is one in which love is cultivated, tended to and shared. Love is active; in how we speak to others, in how we help others, in how we forgive others and how we pray for others. You cannot be a Christian without living in love; the two are intertwined.
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
This is where the "rubber meets the road" as the saying goes. This is where you show if you have the love of God within you or not. If you don't have love, then examine your heart and your faith crucially, for without abiding in love, you aren't abiding in God. Without love, our deeds and words are "clanging cymbals" making noise without merit.
How can we love those who are radically different than us? How can we love our enemies? How can we fight our human natures that much?
By abiding in Christ. When we live in Christ, even the most difficult becomes possible. We see other people as made in the image of God, as worthy of love simply for who they are. Even those who we dislike can be reached in love because God will aid us in doing so if we really ask Him for such grace. And as we act in love towards our enemies, we find ourselves surprised that we warm towards them, and God works not only in their lives, but in our hearts as well.
The Christian life is one in which love is cultivated, tended to and shared. Love is active; in how we speak to others, in how we help others, in how we forgive others and how we pray for others. You cannot be a Christian without living in love; the two are intertwined.
God's grace be with you,
Fr. Charles Butler
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