Gospel Thoughts*
*Easter Season : 6th Week - Friday*
*GOSPEL - Jn 15:9–17*
*First Reading - Acts 1:15–17, 20–26*
*The nature of Father's Love*
*As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love*
*1) Total Sacrificing Love*
The first characteristic of God's love is sacrifice. It is not an ordinary sacrifice. It is the total and ultimate sacrifice
The total sacrifice is seen in the words of John's Gospel 3:16. *God so loved the world He gave His only Son*
Sacrificing His only beloved Son, something great
Jesus also showed the same for of love by totally sacrificing His life on the Cross
*2) Love which leads to lay down ones life for the Friend*
God's Love is seen in allowing His son to lay down His life for the sake of the World
On the part of Jesus, He willingly laid down His life for the salvation of the World
So God's love is characterised by laying down His life for the salvation of the world
*3) Love which builds up friendship and equality*
God's love has the quality of building up the strong friendship and equality
Jesus says I call you friends and you are no longer slaves. Only a genuine love will allow another person to consider as friend
So God's love based on strong feeling of friendship, which facilitates a genuine relationship
*4) Love which shows mercy and forgiven*
God's love is always filled with the aspect of mercy and forgiveness
In the parable of the Prodigal Son these aspects of God's love become very clear
Even Jesus' Love is based on the aspect of mercy and forgiveness
*5) Love which endures suffering*
Genius love always endures suffering
The aspect of suffering is very much found in God's love
God also suffered to love the human being - sacrificing His beloved Son was a great suffering for God
Dying on the Cross also the greatest suffering which Jesus went through His life
All these sufferings have meaning only in the context of Love
*6)Unconditional Love*
There are no conditions applied to God's love
God does not say that only if you fulfill these things, I will love you
God's love goes beyond all the conditions, that is why God's love is called, unconditional love
*7) Love which goes beyond all human standards*
The Logic of Gods love goes beyond all human standards
He leaves 99 and goes in search of 1
He choses not the elite and intelligent people, but the ordinary fishermen
He goes in search of the sinners and not the righteous one
He offers His own life rather than demanding some one else's life
He goes to the poor, sick, marginalized, and not to the rich and influenced one
To become first one should become last and to become great one should become the servant
This is the standards of God's love
*8) What about my Life and Love?*
After having understood the nature of God's love, what is the nature of my life?
Is it a selfish love? Or self centred love?
Or love based on the wellbeing of the other?
*Think about it*
*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*
*Fr Maxim Dsouza*
*Jeppu Seminary*
*Mangalore*
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