Fourth Sunday: Love - Angels Candle
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Definition of Love
- "Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" - 1 John 4:8.
Primacy of Love
- "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13
In Jeremiah 31:3, God says to His people:
"I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have continued my faithfulness to you."
Nature of Love
"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud." 1 Corinthians 13:4
Effect of Love/Affective Love/Charity
- "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
First Reading Micah 5: 1-4a
Bethlehem is a small town but has significance. Home down of Jesse. David was anointed there and Jesus is born there. Love could be small but significant. It should be embedded in the spiritual elements and Jesus Himself to make it pure.
Second Reading Hebrew 10: 5-10
Love is not sacrifice of things but preference of God’s will. Christian love is doing God’s will as Jesus embraced the chalice as will of God.
Gospel Luke 1: 39-45
Love is not emotion but charity. Human emotions help us to feel the love in Charity. When one really helps you feel the love.
Reflection
Ø Unwavering commitment: Everlasting love involves a deep commitment to the beloved, a promise to stand by them through all of life's joys and challenges.
Ø Unconditional acceptance: love does not look at goodness but goodness of love accepts weakness. Everlasting love accepts the beloved without condition, embracing their strengths and weaknesses, and loving them for who they are. Everlasting love is patient, understanding that relationships involve growth, mistakes, and learning.
Ø Unconditional Sacrifice: You love someone not because there are loveable but you are capable of loving. That is charity. Everlasting love is willing to make sacrifices for the beloved, putting their needs and well-being above one's own. Ripple effect of love is to extends to whole world.
Fr. Raja MSFS