“Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who insult you and persecute you, that ye may be the sons of your Father who is in the heavens; for he makes his sun rise on evil and good, and sends rain on just and unjust. For if ye should love those who love you, what reward have ye? Do not also the tax-gatherers the same?” St. Matthew 5:43-46 (DBY)
And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. St. Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)
“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” St. John 13:34 (KJV)
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world — the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches — comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.”
1 John 2:15-17 (NRS)
Dear Father, thank you for your love, your grace, and your mercy. Implant in us a love for all people. Help us to practice the love of God and neighbor. Empower us with a love for one another. And take away our love for the world. This I pray in Jesus’ name. AMEN
Let us praise God for his love and live to share it with others,