Love

Jesus said, ‘I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another. Just as I have loved you,
you also should love one another.’
John 13.34

In her 1975 Christmas broadcast, the late Queen reflected on the value and importance of our relationships and love of one another. She said, ‘[Christ] commanded us to love our neighbours as we love ourselves, but what exactly is meant by “loving ourselves”? I believe it means trying to make the most of the abilities we have been given, it means caring for our talents.’

The Bible can be read as a narrative of God’s love, and of how we can imitate that love in the way we live. St Paul’s Letter to the Galatians speaks of nine qualities given to those who are guided by the Holy Spirit: the so-called ‘Fruit of the Spirit’. Love is the first of these, and all the others (which we will be exploring in the coming days) are expressions or outcomes of love.

We pray that King Charles will, throughout his reign, continue to know God’s love and to abide in that love as he fulfils his responsibilities.

O Lord God, 
love above all loves, 
dwelling wherever love abides,
help us to find within us 
the joy to meet 
your unattainable love,
and ground ourselves 
in that eternally,
that we might love one another 
as you have loved us. 
Amen.