“It is necessary for us to love not as a duty, but just in the way that it is necessary for us to eat.” -St Porphyrios (20th Cent) (1) Reflection: 

Think of the times you have freely shown love, appreciation, and sacrifice - do we not feel more alive in those moments? 

There is an excitement, a deep inner joy, a lightness in our feet when we express our love to one another.  From a small act of kindness to sacrificing our time and energy for someone, we feel the difference it naturally makes in our lives to love God and neighbor. We are created with this need, not just to be loved, but to love.(2)

We realize the necessity to genuinely love, for it nourishes the soul.  When we love we feel like we are made whole, and we realize our purpose. 

When we feel hunger we know it is time to find food to eat.  Whether we feel happy, thankful, or even lonely, depressed, anxious, stressed, frustrated, or sad, we know it is time for us to seek out opportunities to give love to God and neighbor.(3)

For when we love, we open our hearts to God and Christ enters. He fills what is lacking and heals what is wounded.(4)  Christ will walk with us as we traverse life if we invite Him into our hearts in this way.  

If we are having a good day, our soul needs to love others. If we are having a bad day, our soul needs to love others.  We need to love in order for Christ to be with us.  

Let us unite ourselves with Christ our God by recognizing and acting on the necessity to love in order to live a full, healthy, and authentic life in Christ.

Resources:

1) Saint Porphyrios, Wounded by Love, pg 114. 

2) St Paul's Definition of Love in 1 Corinthians 13

3) Mark 12:30-31 "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

4) Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”