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In the Gospel of St. John, chapter 3, verses 16 to 18, we read: "For God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have Eternal Life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the Name of God's One and Only Son." The Bible teaches us that God is love, and whoever lives in love lives in union with God, and God lives in union with him. Love is made perfect in us in order that we may have courage on the Day of Judgment; and we will have it, because our life in this world is the same as Christ's. |
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There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out all fear. So, then, love has not been made perfect in anyone who is afraid, because fear has to do with punishment. We love, because God loved us first. The kind of love that God has for us is immeasurable and unconditional. According to Psalm 103:11, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him..." I would like to share with you a story which may give us a glimpse of God's love for us: In Manila, there was a young man named Agape, who, in spite of his riches, felt that he lacked something in his life. One day, he thought, "I need someone to share my riches. I have to find the woman of my dreams, offer her my love, marry her, and give her all the things she needs." So, he went to Escolta and began his search. Although most of the women he saw there were beautiful, none of them caught his interest. To try further, he went to an entertainment district of Manila along Roxas Boulevard. One night, while Agape was standing in front of a nightclub, a cab stopped near him, and the woman who alighted attracted him. Love-struck, he told himself, "This is the woman I've been looking for!" The woman went inside the club. He followed after her and introduced himself. The woman smiled, "I'm Andrea. It's nice to meet you!" During their conversation, Agape learned that she had been working in the club for a long time. Nevertheless, he told her: "Andrea, the moment I saw you, I knew that you are the woman I have been looking for. I love you and I want to marry you!" Andrea, however, demurred by saying: "We have just met, but here you are professing your love and proposing marriage to me. Aren't we supposed to know each other first?" Agape agreed with her. Night after night, Agape took all of Andrea's time in the club conversing and pampered her with expensive gifts. |
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