Monday, February 13, 2012

Love in New Evangelization

I may be a “K.J.” to some, but the first reading for today, February 14, reminds us on how to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a correct way:

Blessed is he who perseveres in temptation,

for when he has been proven he will receive the crown of life 

that he promised to those who love him.”
(Jas. 1: 12-18)


Some thought that love is about “sexy time,” nope! That is false love! One priest said before: “February 14 is a day of temptation.” I can prove to that! How? Because since last week, I noticed that the media reminds everyone to use condoms, contraceptives, to get a date so that you’ll not be lonely, etc. February 14 is a day of worldly love and pleasures!

If you love someone, you need to respect him or her. Respect his or her body, for the body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said: “whatever you did for one of these least brothers (sisters) of mine, you did for me.” If you disrespect the body of a person, because you entertain the temptation to do impurity, you did it to the Body of Christ! You did it to your God who created you, who saved you, who sanctified you.

Today, the culture of love is understood in a different way. But let us go back to the real description, definition, or explanation what love is: Love is God! “Love grows through love. Love is “divine” because it comes from God and unites us to God; through this unifying process it makes us a “we” which transcends our divisions and makes us one, until in the end God is “all in all” (1 Cor 15:28)” (Deus Caritas Est, 18).

The best way to teach love is to love rightly in the spirit of Christ. Pope Benedict XVI invites everyone to make ways to proclaim the Gospel by new means. Love can only be taught if we love correctly, rightly, as Christ loves us. Each of us are called to be a missionary of love, a model of love, and a martyr for love so that others may see in us the real love that the world cannot give, these are the new means of evangelizing the Gospel of love.

“Today, the term “love” has become one of the most frequently used and misused of words, a word to which we attach quite different meanings,” (DCE, 2) therefore, a new way of celebrating Valentine’s Day is by helping others to know and live in true love!