SUNDAY, 3 FEBRUARY 2019 • 4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jer 1:4-5, 17-19 Ps 70:1-6, 15, 17

1 Cor 12:31—13:13 Lk 4:21-30

Life is simple. The meaning of life is love, for God is Love (1 Jn 4:16). All we have to do is to love God with all our hearts (Dt 6:5), love ourselves (Mt 22:39), and love our neighbours (Mt 22:39). God is easy to love sometimes (see Lk 4:22). But then He speaks the truth in love (see Eph 4:15), and we desire to throw Him over a cliff (Lk 4:29-30). Moreover, we live in the midst of an epidemic of self-hatred. Abortion, euthanasia, alcoholism, addictive behaviour, the idolatry of TV addiction, and major influences in our culture of death are obvious or subtle manifestations of self-hatred. Finally, to love our neighbours means to love everyone, including our enemies (Mt 5:43-44).

How can we relate to God, Who is Love, when we are not in love or even loving? “We, for our part, love because He first loved us” (1 Jn 4:19). Do a one-minute crucifix novena. Look at a crucifix for at least one minute a day for nine days. Let the Spirit reveal in a new way Abba’s love for you (Gal 4:6; Rm 5:5).