Love

Dearest Ones,

Loving is one of the greatest gifts God gave us. You've all heard that love isn't love until you give it away. If you keep it inside, it dries up and disappears. With the season of Love coming up, wouldn't it be fun to surprise someone who least expects it with a Valentine of Love? Maybe someone you haven't been getting along with. Our Blessed Lord talked more about love than anything else. Why is that? Because God is love. Under the old law it was said, "You shall love your friend and hate your enemy." But not so after Jesus came. Now, Jesus gives us no choice, except to love our enemy. It's no big thing to love those who love you - that's easy. God knew we couldn't love our enemies by ourselves so He gave us His Holy Spirit to help us.

"God's love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." - Romans 5:5.

Call on that Spirit to help you. We all need to ask ourselves what we are doing with the love of God that has been poured into us. Have you been slandered? Love and forgive. Did someone strike you? Love and offer the other cheek to him who hit you. Have you been robbed of your shirt? In your heart say, "This poor brother of mine is needy" and give him your jacket, also. Try to say: "I'm glad I was stolen from and not someone else." Did someone say something to you that tore your heart out? Pray for them.

Love, love. Love friends and enemies. We are to love him who hates us. We are to pray for the one who curses us and do not criticize. We don't know the reason people act like they do. Be generous and compassionate. Offer to help them with their problems. The more you give the more you will be given - pressed down and running over will be the reward of those who are generous. God will not give you only according to what you have given, but He will give you much more. God wants us to love like He does.

In everything turn your eyes to God. What would He do in your place? Consider your neighbor who wrongs you as Jesus Himself. "What you do to others, you do to Me," Jesus said. This is very hard to understand, especially when the person doesn't act a bit like Jesus. We are not asked to understand, but only do what He commands. Jesus didn't treat everyone the way they treated Him. He treated all with kindness and gentleness. This is what it means to love unconditionally. I wonder how many people are carrying around broken hearts because someone hates them?

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help us to let your Holy Spirit control our lives, so that we will have your joy, peace, love, kindness and gentleness. If we listen to the devil, our enemy, instead of your Holy Spirit, we will have nothing but anger, fighting, gossip and jealousy in our lives. Give us the grace to be a blessing to whomever we meet. Amen.

Jesus is my forever Valentine because I know He loves me. Have a Blessed Valentine's Day!

Love and prayers,
Sister Francelle