14th February 2020

Checking into God's Presence... “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,” 1 Corinthians 13: 1-4 It is not a mistake that love becomes poignant as a theme in the celebration of Valentine’s Day and it has only come to rubber stamp what Christ Himself preached about love since the whole Bible is a book that progressively preaches the love of Christ to mankind and encourages us to do likewise to our neighbours. Oscar A. Romero once quoted: “We have never preached violence, except the violence of love, which left Christ nailed to a cross, the violence that we must each do to ourselves to overcome our selfishness and such cruel inequalities among us. The violence we preach is not the violence of the sword, the violence of hatred. It is the violence of love, of brotherhood, the violence that wills to beat weapons into sickles for work.” Nowadays, the world festers more on lack of love and or unrequited love. That’s why there is so much unrest in the world today. The true essence of life as Christ portrayed is about creating lasting lovely memories every single day. This love has to be genuine and must unequivocally surrender pride, hatred, jealousies or envy and eschew all arrogance. These however must transcend not just a Valentine’s Day, Christmas Day, New Year’s Day or indeed during the Easter Period Celebration. Therefore, you may possess the whole world; but if you lack love: you are just like a “sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal” like what Apostle Paul preached in 1 Corinthians 13. The story behind our day to day living should offer a fascinating account of deep love, steadfast faith, and God-given courage in our relationship with each other and should be without fear, doubt, favouritism or eye service; but firmly rooted on the love that Christ preached. Let Your true love guides every relationship oh Lord; and forbid that we enter into any bond as an opportunist, rather make the love that nailed Christ to the cross blossom in our hearts in Jesus Name. Amen Just Checking into His Presence...