DATE : 12/3/2021
EVENT : Friday of the Third Week of Lent
COLOUR:Violet
READINGS : Hosea 14:2-10; Resp. Psalm 80:6,8-11,14,17; Mark 12:28-34.
THEME: I LOVE YOU
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twelfth day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " I Love You". Beloved, I strongly believe that there is no other word that has become so common, so bastardised, and so frequently uttered than the words, 'I love you'. More so, there is no other word that has been so stripped of its true meaning, no word that has been so bereaved, no word that has been so said without deep thinking like the words, 'I love you'. In fact, the words no longer mean anything to some persons. Yet, the force of 'love', remains undoubtedly the strongest force there is. People have done great things for the sake of love. Many have died for the sake of love. Many have been saved by love. Many lives have been ruined by love. And many lives have been redeemed by love. Many people see no need to continue living, because their love have been betrayed. Many people see a thousand reason to live again because they have found love. Love can create and it can destroy. Love can bind and it's absence can tear apart. So, beloved, before you utter your next, 'I love you', think deeply, and let your heart mean what your mouth is saying.
In today's Gospel, Mark 12:28-34, Jesus tells us that the greatest commandments is to love. Now, the original Greek word used by Jesus in this Gospel passage is ' Agapetheis '. Contrary to the other forms of love and words for love which exist in the Greek lexicon, Jesus specifically choose to use ' agapao ', for a reason. Now, Agapao, is primarily a Christian love. It is a demonstrative love, and an active love. It is a love that priorotises and places the beloved first and above all else. It is a love that comes from the heart, cutting through the soul, resounding in the mind and is propelled by the strength of the will. It is sacrificial, it desires the supreme good, it is never resentful or angered. It is always faithful and does not go back on its words. It is unconditional and it can never cease, because its origin is from God. Beloved in Christ, just as we are afraid to hurt or offend those whom we love with an imperfect or erotic love, the divine love propels us even more to seek the good of God and our neighbours. It gives us the strength of will to obey the commands of God happily, and it compels us to seek to have a union with God and with each other.
Child of God, when there is love of God in you, obedience to God becomes easy. When you are filled with Agapao, forgiveness and peaceful interrelationships become easy. When you love God, tempations become easy to overcome and sin becomes an enemy. When you love God, prayers become interesting. When you are filled with Agapao, charity, kindness and selfless services become a habit. When you are filled with Agapao , then your words of, "I love you", will make more sense to your heater.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to fill my heart with genuine love of you and for my neighbour...
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
HAPPY WEEKEND BELOVED FRIENDS
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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