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# Pope Benedict XVI, papal encyclical, Deus Caritas Est.

# Pope Benedict XVI, papal encyclical, Deus Caritas Est.

==Quote==

==Quote==

When [[Jesus]] sent his apostles out to teach and preach the gospel, he did not send them out to introduce persons to a [[book]]. He did not attempt to educate them how to educate their hearers about the previous visits to our world by other [[celestial]] helpers who had gone astray. He did not burden the hungry of [[spirit]] with historic details or with excessive [[cosmology]] and extensive [[hierarchy]]. He taught the love of [[God]].

As we mature in our [[spiritual]] progression, as we move from mortal understanding to [[morontia]]l mota and gain greater [[insight]]s, we are also learning that the [[word]] love denotes an ever-greater and expanding [[reality]] approaching cosmic manifestation. Indeed, we are beginning to understand that love is more a matter of the will than it is a matter of feelings. It is possible for us to choose to love. Our mortal flesh follows suit then with feelings that we would ordinarily call [[affection]].

This is the crux of our teaching also. Love cannot be taught; it must be [[experience]]d, and love, in its [[ideal]] is learned experientially, and when it is learned it is never forgotten. A flash of [[cosmic]] [[insight]] may come upon a person as a spiritual experience which is [[unique]] for that [[individual]], and all seekers will have significant experiences, but many times, from a sense of unworthiness, some may not accept this as the touch of God and therefore may need to learn how to accept more fully the love of God in the course of living. Even this we cannot teach by ourselves but must call upon the [[Spirit of Truth]] to accompany us, and in trust of its ability to do its work, we find the [[words]] necessary to enable the Spirit of Truth to open the [[heart]]s of those who hear our words, of those who seek to know the love of God.

Love is an attitude, an [[intention]] of service toward our brothers and sisters. Love is the desire to do good to others, and when it is wholly sincere, it will result in actions. You see, if love was based upon feelings, it would be limited only to those we feel comfortable with and whom we approve of. When our Master entreated us to love our enemies, he transcended the realm of feeling in terms of a door of entrance. If we are commanded to love our enemies and love were based upon our feelings, this would be absurd and impossible, but we are indeed enjoined to love our enemies, therefore logically and truly, this love is not ultimately or even initially a matter of warm, fuzzy feelings. To love our enemies is to be [[God]]-like and to recognize that the status of 'enemy' is in large part a [[perception|perceptive]] category. The reality of that other person is, in almost all cases, really as another son or daughter of God.

The love of God is simple and profound. It is a living [[reality]] that will live beyond this life in the flesh. It will transcend the difficulties of this mortal existence giving us a new [[dimension]] of appreciation for the religionist, that is to say, one who is not necessarily a scientist of [[religion]] who studies academically and [[intellectual]]ly a religious way of [[thinking]] as this is a theologian, but one who lives life as if he was having a constant and on-going spiritual experience, who incorporates Father in all that he does and all that he is.

If our enemy should not be of normal [[mind]] then this is a different situation, and in that case these words do not apply. The matter of discernment as to whether another person whom we might term 'enemy' is in [[fact]] a [[faith]] son or daughter is not something that we can easily decide. Therefore it is recommended that we take the default position that this is so that our 'enemy' is in fact a brother or sister of the same Parents and worthy of love as we are kin. When we love an 'enemy', we think to ourselves, what good could I desire for this other person? What could I pray for, wish for, and even possibly help effect that would be in the best interest of this, my 'enemy'? To love another then is a matter of [[intention]], a matter of attitude.

The hunger for Father's love and direction is present in some form in all persons. It is true that many may have learned to cling to a [[truth]] that has tickled their fancy and helped lighten their burden but only the love of God will fill their [[soul]]s with that for which they hunger and thirst. For us to teach and preach the gospel then is to manifest [[divine]] love in our very lives through our [[behavior]]s and attitudes, and as active apostles of the Christ, there is responsibility and [[grace]] entailed -- and danger, yes, of a sort; excitement, certainly -- but the joy of sharing this [[knowledge]], our experience itself is our greatest gift, our testimony. This may entail our personal [[narrative|story]], over which we have some [[authority]] and conviction; it may entail our philosophic assessment as to what is going on in the world today; it may entail our praise and thanksgiving and our confidence of a happy ending to all life's challenges; it may entail any number of [[things]] and be genuine -- if it is ours.

Love takes no account of worthiness before the bar of judgmental [[human]] [[nature]]. Love is patient and kind. It is not paranoid. It does not imagine [[evil]] about other people but always expects the best, and as Paul so beautifully stated, love never fails. Love is the attitude of God. It is the essence of God's nature. It was out of God's loving [[heart]] that he decided to create the worlds of [[time]] and [[space]] because he desired to share his nature, his existence, his joy, with other [[personality|personalities]]. Love begets love. It creates new opportunities. Love rejoices in diversity and in the expansion of reality. Love is never self-centered, never scraping, stingy, rude or abrupt. Love expands to embrace all others therefore love is the greatest thing, the greatest reality in the [[universe]].

I am reminded of the symphony and how it is that each of us are all our own instruments, musical instruments - the lute, the harp, the trumpet, the kettle drum, the violins, the piano - and each one has its own notes to play, its own [[sound]], and as each instrument obeys the leading of the Divine Conductor, the symphony is created and [[music]] is heard throughout the spheres. And so, as we minister while passing by, it is true that each will reflect their own instrument.

[[Knowledge]] is constantly expanding, and that which is superseded falls away like scaffolding. Our expectations for the future are imperfect and will be fulfilled in ways greater than we can [[imagination|imagine]], but love remains the staple, the foundation, the quest, and the eternal prize. ([[Ham]])

 

We do well not to compare these individual teaching and preaching techniques with others. They are different sounds emanating from different instruments. We need to know who we are and how we sound and be sensitive to the cues from the Conductor so that when we have the opportunity to play our notes, they will be clear and appropriate, as a part of the living symphony of this divine love.

==Sources==

==Sources==