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TODAY’S WORD…

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“If you love me, you will obey my commandments.”

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– John 14:15 (GNT)

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“My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you.”

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– John 15:12 (GNT)

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REFLECTION…from a treatise on Charity by St Maximus the Confessor

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Charity is a right attitude of mind which prefers nothing to the knowledge of God.

Those who possess any strong attachment to the things of this earth cannot possess true charity,

for those who really love God have their focus and the longing of their mind always on Him.

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The Lord Himself reminds us:

“If you love me, you will obey my commandments…

My commandment is this: love one another, just as I love you.”

So if we do not love our neighbour, we do not obey God’s command.

And if we do not obey God’s command, then we cannot love Him.

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We are blessed if we can love all men equally.

Moreover, if we truly love God, we must love our neighbour absolutely.

If this is how we are, then we cannot hoard our wealth

and, like God himself, we give generously from our own resources to others according to their needs.

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Because we seek to imitate God’s generosity,

the only distinction we draw is the person’s need.

We do not distinguish between a good person and a bad one,

or a just person and one who is unjust.

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A charitable mind is not displayed simply in giving money;

it is manifested still more by personal service

as well as by the communication of God’s word to others.

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In fact, if our service toward others is genuine and if we really renounce worldly concerns,

we are freed from selfish desires

for we now share in God’s own knowledge and love.

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When we truly possess God’s love,

we does not experience weariness as we follow the Lord our God.

Rather, we withstand every type of criticism and hardship

without even harbouring an evil thought toward anyone.

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Finally, without love and without sharing love, everything is in vain

and we therefore must never think or say: “Faith alone in our Lord Jesus Christ can save me”,

because by itself faith accomplishes nothing. For even the devils believe!

No, faith must be joined to an active love of God, which is expressed in good works.

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PRAYER…

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Lord, I want to truly love You.

Teach me, my Jesus, how to love and show me how to care for others.

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