Think back to the time you first came to Jesus. If you are like most people, you were attracted to Jesus by His personal love for you. You thought of Jesus dying on the cross to forgive your sins, and you were overcome by His love for you. Or perhaps you or a loved one received a healing from Jesus (see Lk 18:43) and you were overwhelmed by His loving-kindness. The love of God was poured out in your heart (Rm 5:5). All you wanted to do was to think of Jesus, be with Jesus, and talk about Jesus.
Fast forward to today. How preoccupied with Jesus are you right now? Is He the Love of your life? Or have you taken your eyes off Jesus and found your joy in something else? If Jesus is no longer your Delight, it's not because He's stopped loving you. Jesus is Love (1 Jn 4:8). He loves you perfectly.
Love must always increase. If our love for Jesus isn't growing, then it has to be abating. If we turn aside from our early love for Jesus, He holds it against us (Rv 2:4). Hence Jesus warned against our love growing cold (Mt 24:12). When our love for Jesus decreases, we don't attract many people to Him.
People are hungry for love. Our blazing love for Jesus can draw many to Jesus. However, our lack of love for Jesus can turn them away from Jesus. There are two weeks left in this Church year. In the next two weeks, grow greatly in love. May you come to "grasp fully…the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ's love, and experience this love" (Eph 3:18-19).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may I realize how serious it is to turn away from loving You. Pour out Your love in my heart (Rm 5:5). May thousands come to know Your love through the love we share. |
| PROMISE: | "Jesus said to him, 'Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you.' " –Lk 18:42 |
| PRAISE: | Ron owed Norm several hundred dollars. Norm "was moved with pity" and "wrote off the debt" (Mt 18:27). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College