Good morning good people, May the Lord give you peace and blessings in the Holy Spirit. It is 07th January 2025. 1 John 4:11–18; Mark 6:45–52
“You cannot give what you do not have. The precise duty of charity consists in doing to others what you reasonably would like done to yourself. Do I really behave towards my neighbour as I wish he would towards me?” (From “Conferences to the Priests of the Mission” by St Vincent de Paul, No. 207).
Love cannot remain trapped in words alone. Words carry power only when they rise from truth and flow into action. It is love that heals and love that drives out fear. When the capacity to love fades, fear takes over, and fear breeds selfishness, restlessness, and unhealthy attachments. A heart that cannot love seeks substitutes and ends up more empty than full.
God’s love in us remains incomplete unless it is shared without indifference or selfish motive. God loves us freely, asking nothing in return except our willingness to love others. God dwells in us when we create space for the other as they are, with dignity, respect, and selflessness. Love that wounds, manipulates, or dominates is not love at all. True love never inflicts pain; when it does, fear enters and relationships fracture.
The measure of our love is not how much we are loved, but how deeply God’s love lives in us. As St. John teaches, perfect love is revealed in the sacrificial love of Jesus and shared within the life of the Trinity. Love matures only when it is given away.
In the Gospel, Jesus walks into the storm and speaks to fearful hearts: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” When love feels stormy, trust Him. He still calms seas—especially the ones within.
May the Lord grant us the courage to love others even when we have reasons not to.