Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-79) - The Demands of Love

Dearest Goddaughter,

Jesus desires this for us much very much: "Remain in my love." This past Sunday, during our Called to be One Marriage Class at Saint Albert the Great, one of the couples on our team was doing their talk on "Sexuality & Intimacy" and they said something that struck me: ". . . the Church's teachings can be very demanding. . ." Marital love between a husband and a wife demands that the give of each to one another freely, fully (totally), faithfully, and fruitfully, each and every day, in sickness and in health, until death do them part (and into eternal life).

As Jesus showed us throughout his life, especially during his 3 years in public ministry, that his Father loves him but He also demands much from His beloved Son. Jesus understood this and kept God's commandments and remained in His love. As believers and followers of Christ, God loves us but He also demands much from us - to keep His commandments and remain in His love. We cannot do this on our own but nothing is impossible when we look to Jesus who is the Way and the Truth and the Life. And he sent us the Advocate - the Holy Spirit - to guide us.

Why does love demand so much of us? Well, just as husbands and wives are called to get each other and their children to heaven through their love for each other, God's love - as "demanding" as it may seem - is the path that leads us to heaven and eternal life with Him. He wants His joy to be in us so that our joy might be complete. Apart from God is only misery, destruction, and death. We see it every day when we turn on the news. However, we can be instruments for change when we accept the demands of God's love for us and remain in His love.

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: Acts 15:7-21 and Jn 15:9-11 (see below)

. . .

Jesus said to his disciples:

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you.

Remain in my love.

If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,

just as I have kept my Father’s commandments

and remain in his love.

“I have told you this so that

my joy might be in you and

your joy might be complete.”