The Presentation of Question 27 Chapter 11 : 1/3

How does In God's Love 
written by Janet Hurlow
relate to 
the Catholic Faith ?

  Chapter 11  We Live to Love Others 1/3 

            Part 1 We are to Love Our Neighbor
                      Section 1 We are to Love People

475         Love is real.  In our society today, sometimes we can meet people who do not believe that love is real.  The messengers simply proclaim the truth: “In this, make no mistake: peace and love are real.”(1)  

476           Not only is love real, but it endures and is limitless.  Saint Paul proclaims, “Faith hope and love remain but the greatest of these is love”(2)   He also writes, “Love never fails”(3)   The messengers echo these claims about love: “Love is the way to God.  Love has no limit.  All other virtues rest in her wisdom.”(4)  They also state that “The fire of love is not quenched.”(5) 

477           Saint Paul writes that “Love is kind…it is not rude.”(6)   Paul’s insight that love is kind, echoes the love of Jesus.  Jesus proclaims that the love the meek have is blessed(7)  and Jesus directs us to turn the other cheek(8)  and to love those who hate you.(9)   In a manner that I think would please Jesus, the messengers write, “On Earth, never pass an opportunity to be kind.”(10)   About the gentle, kind way we are to live, they also write, “In all your ways, be kind and gentle.  Speak softly.  Be of good heart even in the presence of those who are not kind.  Such rudeness is hard to bear.  Understanding is slow.  Ask God to heal these wounds of unkindness.  Wise are you who seek this way.  Come, take this stab at the heart.  In God’s love, soon, it is passed.  In such blessing are those who accept such rudeness in a gentle, patient way.”(11)  

478           In contrasting love from hate, selfishness, and rudeness, the messengers write that “Love is the opposite from hate.”(12)   They also write that kindness casts out rudeness and selfishness: “This is written: ‘God’s saints are kind.’  Such comforts she gives, such healing of bodies and spirits while rudeness causes such pain in Earth’s toil.  Cast out such rude spirits.  Seek kindness in all your undertakings.”(13)  The messengers also write, “Where kindness dwells, all selfishness is cast out.  In her coming, blessed rest is felt.”(14)  

479           We have been given the commandments to love God and each other.  In introducing the first of the commandments of love of God and neighbor the Catechism states, “In response to the question about the first of the commandments, Jesus says: ‘The first is, 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' the second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these. <2>"(15)    The messengers also repeat these commandments: “Blessings are upon those who are in God’s Spirit, those who have loved God with all of their heart, soul and mind and loved each other.”(16) 

480           We will be judged on how we have loved.  In the context of our eternal judgment the messengers write, “Be of good heart and trust God.  Do the best you can to love God and all people and all God’s creation.  He understands.”(17)   They also write, “The hour is near when every person on the Earth must stand in God’s presence.  What will be worthwhile on that day?.... Count the treasures of your heart.  Have you loved others?  Have you loved God?  Have you loved?  Have you been kind and just to everyone and everything you have met?  Someone helped you along the way.  Now, go forth and help others.”(18)

481           Love leads to caring.  The messengers write, “Love one another.  Love God and love each other.  Such pain is around you.  Comfort comes to others when you proclaim, ‘Let me help you.’  This song is sung in hearts forever.  Take time to relieve the suffering of others.”(19)   They also write that God’s way “teaches people to share.  It teaches people that all mankind has life and needs that must be fulfilled. It teaches people to care about others.  It is the love of a mother for her child.  It is the desire to feed hungry stomachs.  It is the reason people cry when loved ones are murdered.  It is sharing, caring and loving each other.”(20)   The messengers also write, “In all God’s children is this desire to comfort and heal.”(21)

482           It pleases, God very much when we do even the smallest acts of kindness.  The messengers write, “We are so pleased with Earth saints who are singing with God’s Spirit.  Become so wise.  Sing with kind, loving spirits.  Earth music comes from God’s Spirit.  Each smile, each kind word, each small gesture of kindness is music reaching God’s very dear heart.”(22)   In a Beatitude type of fashion, the messengers call this way of living “blessed”, for they write, “Bless and comfort, heal and serve on Earth, so that you may please your Creator forever.  This way is called, ‘blessed.’”(23)

483           The messengers state that serving others not only pleases God, but it makes us happy, too: “The time on Earth should be spent serving others in God’s love.  Enjoy making other people happy.  It is a good way to sing God’s praises.”(24)   They also write that “Those who are serving others on Earth are content and happy.”(25)

484           The messengers encourage us to pray in two ways for the reality of all people loving and caring for each another.  First, we should pray for the lifting up our own hearts: “Take this poor heart of mine and comfort others on this road to Heaven….This is the prayer of the saints.”(26)   Second, pray for the conversion of other people’s hearts.  They write, “What a world it would be if all of the people on the Earth were very kind, loving and generous.  That would be God’s Kingdom on Earth.  Beloved, keep on praying for this miracle.”(27) 

                      Section 2 We are to Help the Poor

485           We are to care and pray for those in need.  The messengers write that “It is in this sweet music that the saints walk.  This is the way to God….  Such kind spirits who cast their cares aside to help anyone who needed help on this long, sad road in Earth’s toil.”(28)   Helping those in need includes praying for them, for they write, “You, whom wisdom sings out to, start helping others who are sad.  Very many prayers arrive in feeling as others feel.  Blessed man keeps helping in Earth’s toil.”(29)   When we care for those in need it is observed in the Father’s Kingdom: “This is written: ‘Make a very sacred song.’  The beautiful music of your spirit is rising as incense to the Father’s Kingdom: resting the weary, comforting the sick, refreshing the thirsty and hungry and bringing coolness to the heat of midday.  In such love are the saints.”(30)

486           We are to take care of the poor because of their need and because they have a special relationship with God.  The Catechism states that “‘The Church's love for the poor . . . is a part of her constant tradition.’ This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor. <234>”(31)   The messengers express this attitude with the conviction for us to “not send the poor away hungry nor the sick unattended.”(32)   The messengers warn us not mock the poor.  They emphatically state, “Do not cast the lowly away, and do not say, ‘Such are the poor and needy.’  God can, in an instant, lift them up, and, in His mercy, speak, ‘This is My beloved.’”(33)  

487           According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus said, “Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”(34)   St. Rosa of Lima understood this as the Catechism cites, “When her mother reproached her for caring for the poor and the sick at home, St. Rose of Lima said to her: "When we serve the poor and the sick, we serve Jesus. We must not fail to help our neighbors, because in them we serve Jesus. <251>”(35)   The messengers write with the same fervor: “Be kind to the poor.  Take that dirty hand.  It is God’s hand.  God made it and loves it so very much.  Sit with the most unlikely to succeed.  Take God’s very small, messy child into your arms and kiss the tear of a small, dirty face.  Be so kind.”(36)   We are to help the poor.

                      Section 3 We are to Respect Other Faiths

488           The messengers have one phrase that definitely deals with how Christians are to treat non-Christians.  There may be one or two more phrases (depending upon how we read them) that also address this topic.  The definite phrase is, “Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, here is your spirit borne up.  To some who are of different beliefs, we speak to you with no disrespect.  God loves all of His Creation.  This is the God of all.  Some think differently.  God has His own way of thinking, also.  We come not to condemn or save souls.  We come to speak the good news of God’s Spirit who is among you.  Think as you may think. It is not our business to judge.  God is the judge. His Spirit is all wise.  We come to tell all Earth’s people that God is real.”(37)   A second phrase deals more with prayer: “When you are speaking to God, some believe this, and some believe that.  Some who believe are bringing their hearts to God in such blessed love and kindness.  Keep on respecting each other.”(38)

489           The Roman Catholic Church prays every Good Friday, “Almighty and eternal God, enable those who do not acknowledge Christ to find the truth as they walk before you in sincerity of heart.”(39)   Scripture tells us, “Everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.”(40)  Knowing this we can perhaps see another relevant ecumenical theme in the phrase: “His (God’s) spiritual joy is in each one who has His love in their heart.”(41)    In God’s Love is profoundly Christian, and its few phrases that deal with different beliefs are very much in line with the Vatican II Catholic Church.

                      Section 4 We are to Bless Other People

490           We are to bless other people, especially the poor.  While discussing Sacramentals, the Catechism states that “every baptized person is called to be a "blessing," and to bless. <172>”(42) The messengers state that we should “Bless each person you meet in God’s Holy Spirit.  Blessings cover many offenses.  For one curse, send forth a blessing.  This is your time to bless and heal all who offend you or all who feel offended.  Remember, it is more blessed to bless then to curse.”(43)   They also state, “Blessed are those who are on Earth and those who bless the poor.”(44) 

491           We are also to bless the moments we live on the Earth.  The messengers state, “Bless the moments God leaves you on the Earth.  Such blessing is very wise.  Love is sent to God in the way moments are spent.”(46)   Those who bless will be blessed.   Finally, In God’s Love mentions three different ways we are to bless: first, we are to bless in God’s love,(47)  second, we are to bless in God’s name,(48)  and third, we are to bless in union with God’s spirit.(49)

                      Section 5  We are to Forgive People

492           We are to forgive others.  According to the Gospels, Jesus gives a mandate for His followers to be forgiving.  Jesus states, “forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.”(50)    We must forgive seventy times seven times.(51)  According to the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “If you bring your gift to the altar and there recall that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift there at the altar, go first and be reconciled with your brother and then come and offer your gift.”(52)   These passages, and many others like it, make it clear that to be a follower of Christ, we must forgive others.

493           The messengers echo Jesus’ mandate: “In forgiveness is so much wisdom.  She is from God.  So wise are His children when they forgive each other.  Blessings on Earth come from God when those who are offended can forgive.  Have you forgiven all the offenses committed against you?  Heaven drinks in all who forgive.  She soaks up a forgiving spirit.  It is so kind to forgive.  Blessings on Earth, tripled and measured three fold, to a forgiving spirit.”(53)   They continue with, “Mighty is a forgiving spirit.  God is with you when you forgive.  For those who forgive and those who are forgiven, it is a very good way out of the fires of Hell….should someone offend you, forgive.  Should you offend someone, ask for forgiveness…. Forgiveness is a kiss of life in a sorrowful world.  This is the time to forgive everyone who has offended you.  Blessings come to a forgiving spirit.”(54) 

                      Section 6 We are to be an Example to Others

494           We are to be an example to others by the way we live, so as to help them become good.  As the messengers state, “This is for you, O faithful saints of Earth.  Spirits of such beautiful singing, on all the Earth, set an example.  In your example, many shall be kept in God’s love.” (55)  They also state, “So kind and inspiring is your song.  This is a song that will make many want to be good.”(56)  

  The next section in Part Two   Chapter 11 2/3