The
love of the Lord for us is manifested in the Holy Spirit sent forth upon us, in
the daily bread we receive, and in the strength that moves us to love others. His
love for us is ever present in our midst. It never leaves us. Though we look around
us and see the misery and suffering of some our neighbors, we need not doubt
about the Lord’s abiding love for us all. He care for us His children in this
valley of tears. He provides our daily bread. He moves us to act towards the
alleviation of the suffering of our brothers and sisters. The first community
of disciples experienced the Lord’s love for them, and allowed Him to empower
them to comfort those who mourn and weep in their midst.
The
Lord sent forth the Holy Spirit upon His disciples, gathered in the upper room,
ten days after He ascended to Heaven. Tearful, confused and afraid, the
disciples prayerfully waited for the promised of a Paraclete. The Lord did not
fail them. The Holy Spirit descended upon them as promised. That very moment,
the disciples felt the care and love of the Lord for them. The fear, confusion,
and thoughts of being abandoned were banished and were replaced by the Lord’s
love and care for His disciples.
The
community of disciples, with the converts for Judaism to Christianity never
lacked the things they needed for the good Lord provided. No one kept the
blessing he had received from the Lord for himself alone. They held all things
in common, making available everything that they had to the disposal of those
in need. They learned how to share.
The
lord’s love for the primitive Church did not remain within the community of
disciples. The love they received from the Lord moved them to help those who
are in need around them. They manifested the love of the Lord through concrete
acts of justice and charity. They distributed alms and healed the sick.
The
Lord loves us. This is evident in the past experiences of our forebears; in the
first community of disciples. The suffering and tragedies around us, in our
midst, should not discourage to believe that the Lord care for us. Let these be
our inspiration to call for the Holy Spirit and to remind us of the Lord’s immense
love for us, greater than the harsh realities of life we see and experience
today. Let His love moves us to do something to lift our neighbors from their
miseries, just like what the first disciples did. Let His love permeate in us, because
in the end it His love that would save us.
