a life of love
“How can the guests at a wedding fast as long as the groom is still among them?” —Mark 2:19
Jesus is our Bridegroom (Mk 2:19). First and foremost, our relationship with Him is to be a love relationship. We live our Christian lives not by compulsion, but by love. “We, for our part, love because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19).
We do everything as a loving response to Jesus. He is our Spouse, our Bridegroom. We live our Christian life as though we are in a wedding feast. We love others and forgive them because Jesus loved us first (1 Jn 4:19) and so we are in love with Jesus. Every day is a rich opportunity to drink more deeply of the fountain of the love of Jesus.
The Holy Mass is the wedding feast of the Lamb. Heaven is the wedding of God and mankind (Rv 19:7). We go to Mass, “the wedding feast of the Lamb” (Rv 19:9), to deepen our life of “nuptial” love with Jesus. We suffer because we love Jesus and so we joyfully imitate Him (Heb 5:8).
Each day, grow more deeply in love with Jesus. Love Him by loving your neighbor as yourself, for man was created in God’s image and likeness (see Gn 1:26). “Live in His love” (Jn 15:10). Love the Lord Jesus with your all (Lk 10:27).
Prayer: Father, pour out Your love into my heart through the Holy Spirit (Rm 5:5).
Promise: “Son though He was, He learned obedience from what He suffered; and when perfected, He became the Source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.” —Heb 5:8-9
Praise: Ken was addicted to drugs. One weekend, he intended to get high. Instead God granted him a heavenly vision. For three days, Ken sat in his room swept up in the love of God. The experience so transformed him that he became a brother in a religious order and joyfully lives a life of consecrated service to the Lord.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from December 1, 2022, through January 31, 2023. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio April 12, 2022
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