for love is of God. everyone who loves...

these are simple, life directing thoughts.

I don't know when I first verbalized "I love Jesus." I do remember having difficulting with those words for a long time. It's a serious thing-to love someone. Often, I think, if we spend even a fraction of time thinking about "how it is that I love so and so", "what is it that I love so much?" we end up with a short list of mannerisms, or experiences we've shared, or even perhaps how that person makes us...us. (that funny thing you do. how relaxed and pleasant conversation is.)

Somehow these things mean "I love..." whoever it is. I suppose that's mostly love, but I don't think it's all of it. In fact, the most arresting and bewitching part of it might be the most difficult to describe. It's a declaration. To some degree I love you because you love me, and vice versa simply because we say so. That seems kind of remarkable...choosing someone with our words, which is different than irresistible emotions and fond experiences. Words are permanent...never fully recanted. People change for better and for worse, but their words and deeds tell the whole story, regardless of the person's intentions. Words name things: husband, wife, God, truth, work, rest, what I do, who I am. The senses are more fragile, fragmented sentences, vanishing thoughts, winds blowing in the body.

I wonder how often people are afraid to trust their words. I have been afraid. I didn't understand them. "I love Jesus"?? How do you love someone in history? What does that mean?

Well, firstly, it means to believe that "love comes from God." Everything we do and feel is love...is a peripheral experience of the center. "God is love." He defines it.
Then, "This is how God showed his love...He sent his one and only Son into the world..." Again, it's declarative. Believe it or reject it.
But "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son...."
Why? "that we might live through him." Are we not alive if we do not believe that love is of God? That Jesus' coming is how we know what love is? No. No, we're the living dead. Dead in our sins, and only sometimes sensing that God is the center and we are somewhere in orbiting space. Living?

Remember. He [Jesus] rose from the dead. History doesn't contain him. He loves us and gave himself for us. He intercedes on our behalf right now. He sent his Spirit and went back to heaven so that while we wait for his return, we begin to understand God the Father's will. Aside from God being the only existent Being who's reason for existing is in Himself, there are not simple answers for what the will of God is. He and his reasons are perfect. But it is true that because Jesus died, was buried, and rose again I can know him and love him. God wants to bring me into love for Himself..."to glorify and and enjoy Him forever", as the catechism declares.

"We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. [The Holy Spirit. The spirit of love that is between the Father and the Son.] And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us."

keywords: seen and testify. We agree with what God has done and declared. acknowledges. We not only feebly declare with our words, but also we bend to the truth. know and rely. God's words are more trustworthy than mine. I can trust them. ...perhaps this is why we "solemnly swear to tell the whole truth, so help me God."

verses referenced are from 1 John 4:7-16