We are a mission based church effecting our local community through the caring of the needs of the poor; domestic abuse of women; the displaced youth; and aged Seniors. And globally throughout Africa and the Caribbean, making a difference in
lives now and forever.
In the book of St. Matthew 22: 36-40 some religious leaders came to Jesus and asked this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Love God
How do we love God? Well, we want to love God the way He tells us to. And how is that? To love Jesus the Son is to love God the Father as well.
In the book of St. Matthew 17:5 immediately after Jesus was baptized, the audible voice of God the Father was heard. The voice said: "This is My Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him.”
First, God acknowledged Jesus as His Son
Second, God said that He was pleased with His Son
Third, God said that we should listen to His Son
What Jesus Says About Loving God The Father "They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them." (John 14:15-21)
"No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also". (1 John 2:23)
He says that if we love Him we are really loving His Father also. He says that If we really know Him, we will know His Father as well. The Apostle John tells us that no one who denies the Son has the Father.
Demonstrating Our Love For Jesus
Jesus tells us how we show our love for Him in the following examples: "If you love me, you will obey what I command. A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another". (St. John 13 - 34)
"But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? (James 2:15-16)
"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ". (Galatians 6:2)
And if we were still not sure what Jesus really means by "Love one another" He gives us the parable of the Good Samaritan
(St. Luke 10:25-37) to help get His point across.
Summing It Up: We love God by acknowledging and obeying the Son. We love the Son by loving people the way He instructs us to:
By helping to bear people's burdens.
By helping to meet people's spiritual and physical needs.
By being impartial to all people including our enemies.
By sharing the Good News of the Gospel with people
and by helping them to grow in their faith.
