Gathering Point Three

In our first ‘Gathering point’ we thought about what LOVE means and we started to think about the question “who is my brother?” and how when I love my brother I am loving God. Our second gathering point gave us the chance to reflect upon more of the Pope’s teaching about Caritas and to consider the ways in which we can respond to God’s love in our lives. Today we will learn what Scripture teaches us about love and deepen our understanding of how we can put God’s love into practice.

In this our third gathering point we will reflect upon the impact of our learning and witness so far.

Let’s look at some more of Pope Benedict’s encyclical Deus Caritas Est God Is Love

“Man needs, and will always need, love.” Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

“There will never be a time where the charity of each individual Christian is unnecessary.” Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

“God’s presence is felt at the very time when the only thing we do is to love.” “There will always be suffering which cries out for consolation and help.” “A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God...” “...and when it is better to say nothing and let love speak.” Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

“Eucharist communion, includes the reality of both of being loved and of loving others in return” Pope Benedict XVI Deus Caritas Est

Starter Questions... Why do you think that we will always need love? “there will never be a time where the charity of each individual Christian is unnecessary” How have you shown charity (caritas) in the last week? How do the Sacraments sustain and nourish us in our love for God and others?

Questions continued In what way has your love “changed or matured” since starting the Caritas award? Have you ever felt like giving up but tried again out of love?

Let us listen to the words of scripture. A reading from Acts of the Apostles

All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For, from time to time, those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians

If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

We will now have a time of prayer and reflection as we think about and respond to the Scripture passages we have just heard.

“Man needs, and will always need, love.” Pope Benedict XVI

“There will never be a time where the charity of each individual Christian is unnecessary.” Pope Benedict XVI

“God’s presence is felt at the very time when the only thing we do is to love” Pope Benedict XVI

“There will always be suffering which cries out for consolation and help.” Pope Benedict XVI

“A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God...”

“...and when it is better to say nothing and let love speak.” Pope Benedict XVI

When food is gone you are my daily meal. “Eucharist communion, includes the reality of both of being loved and of loving others in return.” Pope Benedict XVI

When friends are gone I know my Saviour's love is real. “Love can be “commanded” because it has first been given. ” Pope Benedict XVI

“Since God has “loved us first”, love can also blossom as a response within us”. Pope Benedict XVI

You got the love You got the love You got the love You got the love You got the love You got the love

“Love is never ‘finished’ and complete...” Pope Benedict xvi

“Throughout life love changes and matures.” Pope Benedict XVI

“Love is the light – and in the end the only light – that can illuminate a world grown dim.” Pope Benedict XVI

“Love gives us the courage to keep living and working” Pope Benedict XVI

You got the love You got the love?? “LOVE GROWS THROUGH LOVE” Pope Benedict xvi “LOVE GROWS THROUGH LOVE” Pope Benedict xvi

“Hope continues to do good even in the face of apparent failure.” Pope Benedict xvi

“Love transforms our impatience and our doubts into the sure hope that God holds the world in his hands and that, in spite of all darkness he ultimately triumphs in glory.” Pope Benedict XVI

you got the love? “MAN NEEDS, AND WILL ALWAYS NEED LOVE” Pope Benedict xvi

“For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” “If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” What do these two passages teach us about our motivation to share our gifts, talents, wealth?

“And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them.” What “needs” do people have in our world today? How can love meet those needs? Do you think there will ever come a time when there are “no needy persons among” us?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Which of these words and phrases best describes you? Which would you like to improve in your life?

“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.” In what ways have your knowledge and understanding of love matured?