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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples,

if you love one another.’”

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– John 13:35 (NIV)

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QUOTE…

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“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.

Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

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– St. John the Evangelist (1 Jn 4:7-8)

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REFLECTION…

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We the faithful, we the believers,

should look into ourselves and carefully examine our minds

and the impulses of our hearts.

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If we find some of the fruits of love stored in our hearts,

then we must not doubt God’s presence within us.

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But, to make ourselves more and more able to receive so great a Guest,

we should do more and more works of durable mercy and kindness.

After all, if God is love, loving charity should know no limit,

for God Himself cannot be confined within limits.

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Moreover, what God in His goodness has already given to us,

let us give it gladly to those in need

and even to those who have wronged us.

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Let us show a more open-handed generosity

so that God may be thanked through many voices

and the needy may be fed as a result of our fasting.

No act of devotion on the part of the faithful gives God more pleasure

than the support that is lavished on His poor.

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When we give alms,

we must not be anxious but full of happiness.

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Do not be put off giving by a lack of resources.

A generous spirit is itself great wealth,

and there can be no shortage of material for generosity

where it is Christ who feeds and Christ who is fed.

His hand is present in all this activity:

His hand, which multiplies the bread by breaking it

and increases it by giving it away!

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[from a sermon by Pope St Leo the Great]

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Lord, to be as generous with my love for others,

as You are with Your overwhelming love for me.

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