Divine Charity
“Remain in my love.” – JN 15: 9
Sisters and Brothers, Jesus tells us very simply today that He loves us as much as the Father loves Him. What are we to do? Remain in the Love of Jesus. How do we do this? By utilizing the third gift we received from God at our Baptism, Charity. This theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the Love of God.
Jesus makes Charity the New Commandment. By His own example, Jesus displays the Father’s Love. If we, as disciples of Christ, remain in His Love, then we will be examples for others to observe and decide to also be a part of something special.
God is Love, and Love is His First Gift, containing all others. This Love has been poured into all of our hearts through the Holy Spirit, the Father and Son’s gift to us. The first effect of this Love is the Forgiveness given for our sins which wounds our relationship with God and one another. This Gift of Love from the Holy Trinity is the source of new life in which we can realize now,the Joy of our inheritance. As we grow and achieve this level in our life, we can then fulfill Psalm 95, “Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.”
Faith in God’s Love encompasses the call and the obligation to respond with sincere love to Divine Charity. However, we are cautioned to avoid living our life in ways that impede our growth in Divine Charity. This can start with an attitude of indifference, as this leads us to refuse to reflect on God’s Love as something good and powerful. Ingratitude fails to acknowledge Divine Charity and the desire to return Him love for Love. Lukewarmness causes us to hesitateand eventually neglect to respond to God’s Love. This means we refuse to totally give ourselvesover to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in acts of Charity. Spiritual apathy goes so far as to refuse the Joy that comes from God and actually become disgusted by the thought of His Love. Finally, after progressing down this path of thanklessness, callousness, and disobedience, we have hatred for God because our pride drives us to believe that God really inflicts pain and suffering, does not care for our wellbeing, or worse, we are god.
Although we can forget God or reject Him, Our Father never ceases to call us to Himself. If we come to respect and love God, then we will come to realize that we would not exist without Him. By accepting Divine Charity, we don’t just attend Mass, we give praise and exult Our Father in full humility. We join with the Saints and Our Blessed Mother in confessing with gratitude that God has done great things for us, and Holy is His Name. In becoming one with God, we are set free from turning on ourselves, from the slavery of sin, and the idolatry of the world.
We prove our love for God and for one another when we embrace the Way of The Cross. What is the cross in our life? When our will crosses with God's Will, and we do God's Will. By fully surrendering to acts of Divine Charity, then we will know the Peace and Joy of a life with God.
"Lord Jesus, may I always grow in the joy and hope which your promises give me. Inflame my heart with love for you and your ways and with charity and compassion for my neighbor. May there be nothing in my life which keeps me from your love."
May God’s Grace and Blessings Always be with You and Yours!!
Yours in Christ,
Deacon Bob
St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church
Houston, TX