First Love

Saint John Neumann, Bishop

~~~ 1 John 4:7-10 ~~~ Psalm 72 ~~~ Mark 6:34-44 ~~~

...not that we have loved God, but that he loved us
and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

The truth that God loved us first is the
foundation for our life.
Any love that we profess for another
 was conceived from this first love.

God loved us first
not because we deserved it...
not because we asked for it...
not because we longed for it...

God loved us first because that is who God is...
God is LOVE.

All the love that we give and receive
sprung from the love of God for us.

Jesus fed the huge crowd from the little
 that they came with that day.

He fed them from his abundant love.

This miracle was not about the multiplication of the food.
 It was about the over flowing love of God
manifested through the words and hands of Jesus that day.

We come into the world with nothing,
just as the crowd on the hillside came with nothing.

Without the love of God being poured forth from Jesus
this story would have never been included in the Gospels.

All that we are...all that we have...
comes from the gift of God's love for us.

Next time you feel love for someone
remember it is only possible because God first loved you.

Love is all there is when we gaze into the face of the Lord.

Blessings all the days of this new year.
His love is evident...
now it is our turn to love more.

~~~Peace~~~