The Gift of Love
We have already talked about how much God loves you. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. One way that He loves you is by giving you rules. He sets up boundaries to give us freedom within the confines of His Love, for our own good. Could you tell me the Ten Commandments,one at a time?
Could anyone share with me what Jesus said was the greatest commandment? By loving God with all we have, loving others as ourselves, loving ourselves, and respecting our bodies, we can live a very happy life without regrets and then enter into the neverending embrace of the LORD. And when we make mistakes, God is always there to forgive us through the power of Christ’s redemption. We are never too far gone to start over with God.
St Paul wrote, “ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends.” Does anyone know what “love” stands for in this verse? This ultimate love is God, Himself. God is living love and the source of all love here on earth.
We have probably heard this verse many times, but it is good to read over slowly and think about, because even though it is written about God who is all powerful and perfect, it is a good guide for how we should love. Jesus asked us to love our enemies and pray for those who mistreat us, so this verse isn’t just about how to treat our family and friends but everyone.
Let’s read it again, slowly. “ Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never ends.”
Love means doing always what is right to another, even when it is hard. What are some things that your mom does for you that isn’t easy or isn’t fun? Are there things that your mom asks you to do that maybe you don’t want to, but know you should? Love takes not being happy but taking care of the other person anyway. Your parents love you immensely. Think of all these things that aren’t fun, that aren’t easy, and that they might not like, but your parents do them anyway, and even though they make you eat fruit when you would rather have chocolate, go to bed when you would rather stay up, and clean your room when you would rather play; they would never make you do something that is harmful for you. That is true love!
Bishop Barron says, “Love is willing the good of the other for the other’s sake.” What that means is wanting what is best for the other person, always, for the one you love’s sake, not yours. Love is a very special emotion, because it is actually an action and a choice. When we choose to love others we are doing God’s work in the greatest way possible.
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