Day 8 (2nd Monday of the Holy Great Fast)

How? Through your love for God

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

“Love is to be directed first to God.

If we wish to understand love in its true scriptural foundations, we must set before us (and understand) the following truth:

Love should be directed to God, before anyone or anything else. This is what God revealed to us in the Book of Deuteronomy: ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.’ (Deut 6:5)

So then, if this love to God is from the whole heart, is there any room left for any other love? How can we love anything else, if the whole heart is for God?! The only answer is that our love for everyone and everything is through our love for God.

When we have given the whole heart to God, within our love to God, we love everyone. That is why when asked about the greatest commandment, Christ replied, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ (Matt 22:37-39)

Why did He say, “The second is like it”? Because it is through the love of God... It is part of it... It is not separate from the first commandment...”

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III

2nd Monday of the Holy Great Fast

• (Day 8) Through your love for God
• (Day 7) Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness
• (Day 6) Give your heart to God
• (Day 5) Make God Himself your way
• (Day 4) How? Seek to grow in the likeness of God
• (Day 3) How? Unite with God through prayer 
• (Day 2) How? Fulfill the will of God
• (Day 1) How? Be devoted to God
• How To Live a Holy Life (The Holy Great Fast 2018)