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Tuesday, October 5, 1999

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Jonah 3:1-10
Psalm 130
Luke 10:38-42

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pure love alone

"The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time." —Jonah 3:1

After spending some time in the belly of a whale, Jonah changed his mind and obeyed the Lord (Jon 3:1-3). However, Jonah did not obey the Lord in love. Jonah went reluctantly to Nineveh and was angry when 120,000 Ninevites repented and were spared destruction (see Jon 4:1).

Are you doing the right thing for a less than best reason? For example, do you obey God only to avoid hell? This is a good reason for obeying God. However, our love for God is the best reason for doing anything.

Moreover, we must do everything at least partially because we love God, for without love even those things done for good reasons profit us nothing (1 Cor 13:3). God is Love (1 Jn 4:16); therefore, everything done in God must be done in love.

We must not only do everything in love, but also with at least as much love as our first love for the Lord. If we lose our first love, the Lord will put out our lampstand, that is, stop much of our activity (Rv 2:4-5).

Finally, the Lord will only temporarily let us live with mixed motives of love and other incentives. He will for a time take away our benefits from being Christian. Then the only reason for loving Him will be "love."

Prayer:  Father, purify me to love You unconditionally. Give me pure love.

Promise:  "She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord's feet and listened to His words." —Lk 10:39

Praise:  Wendell and Nancy transported their children to sports practices and games for years. They finally decided to remove their children from all participation in sports. Now they all attend daily Mass, eat family meals, pray a daily rosary, and go on family campouts. Their children are happier now than ever before.

Nihil Obstat:  Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 10, 1999


Imprimatur:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 16, 1999