Sunday, October 26, 2008

The soul of Christian existence

"Love Your Neighbor"
This morning in church the lessons reminded us of the "Summary of the Law": Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and your neighbor as yourself. Perhaps it's a good idea to think about what is actually meant by love. Here's something I found today:

If love is the soul of Christian existence, it must be at the heart of every other Christian virtue. Thus, for example, justice without love is legalism; faith without love is ideology; hope without love is self-centeredness; forgiveness without love is self-abasement; fortitude without love is recklessness; generosity without love is extravagance; care without love is mere duty; fidelity without love is servitude. Every virtue is an expression of love. No virtue is really a virtue unless it is permeated, or informed, by love (1 Corinthians 13).

--- Fr. Richard P. McBrien

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