Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue,
virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control,
self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion,
devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. (2 Pt 1:5-7)
Bottom line, love will win out every time.
There are so many instances whereby people fail to love. Even worse, they not only fail, they refuse to love.
Yet, love is supposed to be the hallmark of a Christian.
Jesus told His followers, “Greater love has no one than to lay down his life for his friend. I call you friend…”
He not only called us friends, He proved it by laying down His life for us. Not just in a simple kind of way; but, in the brutal way of the agony of the cross. His death was not quick and painless, it was tortured and slow.
Yet, He was willing to endure the agony of the cross because of His great love for us knowing that His death and resurrection were the key for us to be able to return to the Father. By dying and rising from the dead, he destroyed death and restored life.
In the first reading for Mass today, Peter reminds the early Christian community that they are to embrace the virtues, above all, to love.
FAITH ACTION: Love begins at home. It is hard for us to love others if there is no love in our own home or for our own person. In some way, shape, or form, let someone at home know that you love him or her today. And, while you are at it, take the opportunity to love yourself.