Love is a many faceted splendour ... it conjures many thoughts and feelings ... everyone has a different definition of Love.  What does Scripture tell us about it? ... How do I interpret Love? ... What does the world tell us Love is? ...  Let’s take some quiet time now to reflect on all of this.

I invite you to make yourself comfortable in your pew ... to close your eyes and take a few deep breaths ... to quiet your thoughts ... to listen with the ears of your heart and honestly ponder on Love.

St Paul tells us:

- Love is patient ... even though someone is testing my patience beyond endurance, I take the time to listen instead of complaining – it allows me to show love to someone else who may be having a bad moment or two.  I die to myself to give life to another ... How does that make me feel ? ...

- Love is kind ... I am kind to someone whom I see struggling with a situation – I realize that I am doing what Christ calls me to do, to love others as He loves me ... How does that make me feel ? ...

- Love is not envious or boastful ... when a friend receives recognition or given a great opportunity or even a beautiful gift and I can truly be happy for his/her good fortune I am not envious  ...  When I do not need to blow my own horn to feel loved I am accepting myself for who I am, for whom God made me to be ... How does that make me feel? ...

- Love is not arrogant or rude ... arrogance and rudeness hurt deeply ... I make a concentrated effort not to treat another person in that manner ... How does that make me feel? ...

- Love is not irritable or resentful ... even though I am in a bad mood and feel hard done by I make an effort to be loving towards another.  Even a small gesture of compassion goes a long way ... How does that make me feel? ...

- Love does not rejoice in wrongdoing but rejoices in truth ... truth brings freedom and from freedom comes peace and joy – wrongdoing always has bad consequences.  How does that make me feel? ...

- Love bears all things, believes all things ... I am not going to complain about the difficulties I am facing but I will find a way to work things out – I will place my trust in God because I believe in His promises ... How does that make me feel? ...

- Love hopes all things, endures all things ... I know that without hope I have lost much ... I endure because I know tomorrow will bring a new perspective on the situation and I know that there is a reason for all things ... How does that make me feel? ...

- Love never ends ... no matter what happens or comes around love never ends – it is a constant – something I can hold on to – something I can believe in – something I can trust ... God is Love ...

I am made in the image of God – if God is Love then I also am Love.

God sent his only Son so I would have life and live it to the fullest.  Love gives life.  When I love I give life ... simply smiling at someone I meet can change his/her day - can touch a heart so deeply that it could make a difference in a life ... a smile is often contagious ...

When I was a child, I spoke like a child,

I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child;

when I became an adult, I put an end to childish ways.

For now I see in a mirror, dimly,

but then we will see face to face.

Now I know only in part;

then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;

and the greatest of these is LOVE.

As women of faith, we believe that our Heavenly Father loved us so much that He sent His only Son to give us life and to teach us how to love and that His Holy Spirit is with us always even to the end of time ...

Love one another as I have loved you!

We now go forth to LOVE ...

Amen!