"As God (the Eternal Parent) has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love."     -- John 15: 9 (Inclusive Lectionary)

No one has ever shown any greater love than Christ, who laid down His life for us, His friends. We know that He loved us because the Gospel of John says that he called us friend, because He revealed to us all the things that God made known to Him. And this is real love, not that we loved Christ, but that He first loved us and chose us to be the children of God.

When we realize how much Jesus loves us, we cannot help but to abide in His love. Divine love is all there is and it is everywhere at all times. Where can we flee from such all inclusive love? Abiding in love is not a matter of staying in a particular place, rather it is about staying in a certain state of mind. We must remain conscious of Christ's love for us and for the whole world. As we focus on this love, we feel connected to the source of all love--the one who is the Lover of our soul. In response we sing with the saints of old, "my soul loves Jesus."

Prayer: Creator and Lover of my soul, may I be like you, more loving each day than I was the day before.
AMEN/AHWOMAN

-- Rev. Carolyn Mobley