Pope's message "God is Love"

[Amada Reza]

I was interested to find the title of the Pope's first official statement to his flock spoke summarily of the love of God.

An article from Associated Press in part reads:

'Love is free'

[Pope] Benedict said the church’s work caring for widows, the sick and orphans was as much a part of its mission as celebrating the sacraments and spreading the Gospels. However, he stressed that the church’s charity workers must never use their work to proselytize or push a particular political ideology.

“Love is free; it is not practiced as a way of achieving other ends,” he wrote.

“Those who practice charity in the church’s name will never seek to impose the church’s faith upon others. They realize that a pure and generous love is the best witness to the God in whom we believe and by whom we are driven to love.”

This sounds very hopeful, indeed.

[Sandy]

This sounds very hopeful indeed. I once read an article about the term "person" for my diplom thesis in which Joseph Ratzinger was cited. I don`t remember the exact words, but he said something like this: Our relationship to the Father makes us to who we are, and this very relationship is the prerequisite to every other relationship we may have as human souls.
Sounded good to me. Well, that has been about 12 years before he became pope Benedict. What I heard from him during the past few years hasn`t sounded as promising to me ... the more I would like to thank you, Amy, for this quote. It gives me hope.

Love, Sandy

[Amada Reza]

Our relationship to the Father makes us to who we are, and this very relationship is the prerequisite to every other relationship we may have as human souls.

Awesome, and so eloquently said! Thank you, Sandy, for this gem.

Love to you, dear sister,

Amy

[Dan Bowman]

Quote: "Our relationship to the Father makes us to who we are, and this very relationship is the prerequisite to every other relationship we may have as human souls."

This made me think about the many layers of relationship that we have with God. There is the intrinsic relationship based on creator and created as God's highest & most perfect handiwork. This relationship is a birthright of all God's children, even for the infidel. The benefits to which is life & love.

And then there is the proactive relationship with God that is engendered through prayer that affects our relationship with others.

Our awesome birthright makes us all so special and lovely as sisters and brothers. And then to add the beautiful dimension of God's love are we a b l e to give more love to others, not of ourselves, but of the ONE who is the Source.

Lovely thoughts Sandy & Amy. Thank you sweet sisters.

Love,
Dan