How many times do we have a reveal of God the Father expressing His Love for His Son in Scripture? The one that always seems to come to mind is in the Jordan when St. John the Baptist is baptizing Him.
Today's Breviary reading, Tuesday Week III, is from the first letter of St. John:
14 Moreover, we have seen and testify that the Father sent his Son as savior of the world.
15 Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him and he in God. 1 John 4:14-15
Jesus is indeed the Son of God and the Lord of our lives (1 Corinthians 12:3).
When contemplating the Father's words of love and pride it draws one out to realize that there is a need within us for same.
Our Love Languages
So many of us have lived with little to no expression of love in our families. Many times there's an assumption that the beloved just "knows" they are loved.
The reality though is nowhere near that.
We need to be loved in the way we are wired for love.
The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman is an excellent way for us to learn how we need to be loved to "feel" it and "know" it.
- Gifts
- Quality Time
- Words of Affirmation
- Acts of Service
- Physical Touch
Clearly, God the Father expresses His Love in words of affirmation here! ;)
Our Love Tanks
In a sense, we have two Love Tanks:
- Space filled by God's Love
- Space filled by those that love us
The first can be filled by anything but God's Love while the second may or may not be filled at all.
So where does that leave us with today's reading?
That God, Who is Love, is already resident in us. That we need to trust that He is truly present.
Getting to Know Love
How do we get to know His Presence and Love?
The best way is to receive Him in the Holy Eucharist and take the time to be silent with Him after receiving Him and then after Mass for at least five minutes.
The next best way is to sit with Him in Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament or while He resides in the tabernacle. We need to learn to adore Him and come to silence in mind, body, and spirit for He and His Holy Spirit speak in gentle whispers.
Another is to spend time with Him in the Scriptures or take the time to come to silence for 10-30 minutes each day to learn to listen to him.
Once that first tank starts to fill everything that blocks it from being so will come to light. This is _not_ an easy road to follow.
It requires much patience and perseverance in the face of our wounds, brokenness, and selfishness.
If the pain is such that it can't be handled alone then reach out to a professional. Most cities have Listening Centres where we can drop in and speak with a Psychologist.
Humility. It's required for this journey. Reaching out for help is in tandem with our reaching out to the Lord for His Help!
The Goal
Ultimately, what is the goal?
It is to know and love God and to know His Love for us.
To do so, we must humbly accept His guidance to remove all blocks, bitter roots, unforgiveness, possessions, and anything else that would stand between Him and His Love.
That leads us to the second tank.
For it to start filling _we_ must start to change _our_ ways.
There is no blame game in love only taking responsibility for who we are and what we do.
A start is to learn the Five Love Languages and share them. Work with loved ones to discover their Love Languages, don't be surprised if they are not the same, and work on loving them.
Forgiveness. We need to forgive those who have hurt us just as the Lord does each and every time we turn away from Him in sin.
And finally, the key in all of this is: Love your neighbour _as_ yourself. We can't love and be loved by others if we don't first love ourselves. Don't forget, we also need to _forgive_ ourselves!
So, how do we do that?
The answers are in the Whispers of the Holy Spirit within us and Our Lady's always willing arms of Love. :)
Oh, and visiting the Confessional as often as we need to in order for Our Lord's cleansing Blood and Water to do their work within us.
Pax,
John Everett
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