what is love?
"The command I give you is this, that you love one another." —John 15:17
When the Lord says "I love you," He doesn't mean "I like you," "I'm attracted to you," or "I want to socialize with you." When the Lord says "I love you," He means "I have died for you." "It is precisely in this that God proves His love for us: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Rm 5:8). "The way we came to understand love was that He laid down His life for us; we too must lay down our lives for our brothers" (1 Jn 3:16). "There is no greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends" (Jn 15:13).
For a Christian, love is not selfish and superficial; rather, it is crucified and divine. Love for a Christian is not an attraction as much as a command. Jesus said: "This is My commandment: love one another as I have loved you" (Jn 15:12). "There are in the end three things that last: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. Seek eagerly after love" (1 Cor 13:13—14:1).
Prayer: Father, You are Love (1 Jn 4:16). In this Easter season, send the Holy Spirit to purify me for a genuine love for my brothers and sisters (1 Pt 1:22). This Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit produce in me the fruit of love (Gal 5:22).
Promise: Paul and Barnabas "have given over their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." —Acts 15:26, our transl.
Praise: James has witnessed publicly of his vasectomy and how the Lord showed him its sinfulness, restored him through reversal surgery, and blessed him with more children.
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our booklet, Praying for a New Pentecost, or on audio AV 92A-1, AV 92A-3, AV 92B-1 or our two video series starting with V-92A. We also offer a leaflet, The Pentecost Novena, or on audio AV 103-1 or video V-103.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, October 30, 2013
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