A Note From Fr. Dan

Christian Love

Dear Parish Family,
The three Theological virtues are Faith, Hope and Love; according to St. Paul, Love is the greatest and the foundation upon which the Christian Life is based. In Corinthians, Paul writes: “Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous, it is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13: 1-13)
This virtue is the very essence of God, as God is described as Love. This is not the love of the world: it is something very different. The love of God is freeing and sets free; it is forgiving and creative. However, it is not the same as liking. Liking is an emotion, based on attraction, or similar interests and goals. The Love of God is a decision based on ‘grace’; to look beyond any external, or changing reality, or deed that a person has done to find a unique child of God, created in the Divine Image and redeemed by the Blood of Christ. This Love reminds us that we are to love as we have been loved by God: freely, honestly, without any condition or reservation. God Bless, Fr. Dan