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“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Dear Boniface,
Do you think loving is easy?
We may think that it’s easy to love those we already love and hard to love those we dislike. But I challenge you this Valentine’s Day to think about the kind of love that God desires us to have for everyone.
Everything we need to know to live a life of love—the formula for our behavior, attitude and even thoughts—is right in black and white in God’s Word! The fruit of the Spirit is more important than the gifts of the Spirit. Loving is more important than having a message of wisdom or knowledge, or the gift of faith or healing. Even miraculous powers, prophesy, discernment between spirits, speaking in tongues or the interpretation of tongues—all works of the Spirit—take a back seat to love.
When I was on mission in Peru, a campesino approached me at the end of a particularly grueling day and asked me to go to his home to anoint a dying person. I inquired how far the house was and he answered, “Just up there”. So, I agreed. But “just up there” turned out to be a one hour walk on foot! Perhaps if I had known the distance, I might not have said “yes”, yet I was so glad that I did. It was good because the man died peacefully and I was happy that I made the choice of answering God’s call when the temptation was to think more of myself than the person in need.
PRAYER OF VALENTINES DAY
Lord of love, you inspired
Your holy priest and martyr,
St. Valentine to risk and offer his life
to help Your followers consecrate
their marriage vows.
Bless all spouses with renewed
faithfulness, mercy and love
to overcome all hardships,
problems and trials;
that in loving each other
they may offer You a
perfect prayer of praise.
Lord, bless and protect all couples
who struggle to remain true
to themselves and to each other.
By your example of humility and service
may they overcome all ego and pride
to reflect Your love in their lives.
And Lord, bless all who, having lost loved ones,
now find life empty or pointless.
May the love, which they once bore for another,
be united to You and transformed
by Your love for us till we all meet again
in the eternal heaven of Your mercy. Amen.
God bless u.
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