Wednesday March 2, 2022

Love like your Father

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Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 1 John 4.7

God is love ! If a parable perfectly illustrates what the love of the Father is, it is that of the prodigal son ! It should rather be called the "parable of the heart of the Father" !

In this parable, the older brother does not forgive his brother because he considers himself to be morally superior to him. He does not know the depth, the height, the breadth of the father's love. He does not understand this love ; he even judges his father. He uses violent words against his brother and his father : "But when your son arrived, the one who ate your goods with prostitutes, for him you killed the fattened calf !" (Luke 15.30). He didn't look like his father !

I have learned over time that any judgment, any contempt, any criticism towards brothers and sisters reveals that the love of the Father is not in us. I prayed to be like him and love like him. When I receive the Father's love, I see the other as his child. I see God in him.

When we receive God's love, we stop comparing ourselves to others and judging them.

To place oneself as a judge is to demonstrate that we have not fully grasped the dimension of God's love for all men.

Listen the voice of God

Let's take the time to listen to what God wants to say. Receive a new revelation of his Love now.

Praying is simple. Speak to God as you would your closest friend. God loves you and he can hear everything. Here is an example of a prayer : "Lord, teach me to love as you love, to separate myself from what prevents me from receiving the immeasurable, infinite, extravagant love of the Father. Amen."

Praise God

To praise God is to express our gratitude to him. You have certainly already felt the love of God for you or for a loved one. Today, what are your subjects of recognition ? Take a time to thank the Lord.

Act today

Now, deepen what you have received. What is the Holy Spirit showing you ? Who in your family, neighborhood, work, or elsewhere would be blessed with a sign or a loving word from you ? What concrete action could you take ?

Honor the Lord

Our journey for the day ends. Let us pray together to honor our God.

"Father, we love you because you first loved us. Yours is the reign, the power and the glory, amen !"

Paul Calzada

Source (The Thought for the Day)