Immersed in Christ: Sixth Saturday of Easter: May 15, 2021

"Enkindle in us the fire of your divine love"

Paul wrote "God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit given to us" (Romans 5:5). This is mutual love. We all "love one another deeply from the heart" in "unity of spirit" (1Peter, chapters 1 to 3).

This is not just human love. "Through the resurrection of Jesus," God has given us a "new birth" by "water and Spirit" based on "the living word of God announced through those who brought us Good News by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven." So we ask the Holy Spirit to let us "love one another as Jesus has loved us" (John 13:34)—to love divinely because we are divine.

We love divinely because we know divinely. Jesus promised, "In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. I will send you the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you."

Love is the first "fruit of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:22). It gives the second, Joy. Peter wrote: "Although you have not seen him [physically], you love him" because you "believe in him." And for this reason you "rejoice with an indescribable and glorious Joy."

"Enkindle in us the fire of your divine love," asks for what should be most characteristic of Christian life. Our life is the divine life of God. God is love (1John 4:8, 16). Our life should be love.