Jesus revealed that the two greatest commandments were about loving God and our neighbor (Mt 22:37-39). Jesus maintained that His mission was to show us the Father's love (Jn 15:9). He commanded us to love even our enemies (Mt 5:44). Jesus said that we would be recognized as His disciples because of our "love for one another" (Jn 13:35). Finally, Jesus laid down His life for us when He died on the cross. "There is no greater love than this" (Jn 15:13).
The first Christians began to understand Jesus' life of love. They came to realize that:
Finally, the early Church came to the awesome conclusion that "God is Love, and he who abides in Love abides in God, and God in him" (1 Jn 4:16; see 1 Jn 4:8). Love Love Himself.
| PRAYER: | Father, may the love of Christ impel us (2 Cor 5:14) to make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19). |
| PROMISE: | "The word of the Lord has echoed forth from you resoundingly." –1 Thes 1:8 |
| PRAISE: | Praise Jesus of Nazareth (Mk 10:47), Son of David (Mk 10:47, 48), Rabboni (Mk 10:51), "the Resurrection and the Life" (Jn 11:25), Lord, and God! |
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