29 September, 2023
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:37–39
Ever-Loving God, our Creator, God of our Salvation, all praise, honor and glory is yours now and forevermore. We stand in awe and reverence of your profound and perfect love for us, despite our flaws and imperfections. You demonstrated this, by saving and redeeming us by your Grace and Mercy. You sent your beloved Son, our Messiah Jesus, for the propitiation of our sins by his death, resurrection and ascension into Heaven.
You have set down your statutes in your Covenant, commanding not only perfect obedience to your Word, but also, understanding your Will and following your Ways with our minds, hearts, souls and senses. This is what will empower us to refrain from evil and grow in love. By increasing in union with you, we can allow our lives to be transformed so as to measure up to a standard of enhancing the love we feel for our God and our neighbor. We desire to rid ourselves of hypocrisy and worldly wise ways of suspicion of the intent of people we deal with, working instead, with love and trust.
Love is giving without any expectations. Just as Jesus loved us with a love so great, that he gave up his life for us to be restored to you, Father, for all eternity, we resolve to consecrate our lives to you totally and irreversibly, to the glory of your Name. We pray that, receiving the just dispensation of your grace and love, we may, with faith and trust in your righteousness, abound in our love for you and for our brethren, in perfect obedience to your Holy Will and in Jesus’ Name. Amen
