Dear conqueror in Christ:
We celebrate today forty years of the Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti providing education, health care and hope for Haitians. This is made possible by the power of love, the greatest force God has made available to us for purposeful living.” Jesus identifies love as the greatest of all commandments teaching to: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… and to “Love your neighbor as yourself.”’ (Matthew 22:37, 39). What I wish to underscore is that we must commit ourselves to live by this double command of love of God and neighbor. Let’s see how to use the power of love to make it happen.
Now love of God is intrinsically connected with love of human beings. John expressed it this way: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20). Love empowers us for healthy relationships with others by conquering fears. For “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). Through love we accept ourselves and in turn we accept others just as they are with their strengths and flaws. Furthermore we extend love to neighbors through acts of kindness to make life better for them. For love empowers with the Spirit-filled motivation to do good works on their behalf. Be then empowered by love for your own heathy life and for the well-being of your fellowmen.
Excelsior
Bishop Leon