Thursday after Epiphany Sunday

The gospel from Luke and the reading from John are about love, the love from God and our love for him.
In the reading from John, we learn what it means for us to love God. We are told that we cannot love God without first receiving his love. We cannot love God without loving all others. This love for others is not just for our families and friends, but also for those who are the most difficult for us to love.
God wants us to love those who are the most difficult for us to love. He knows our human limitations and does not expect perfection but does expect us to be trying. The only way that we can grow our capacity to love is to forgive the real and perceived wounds inflicted on us. May we ask for the grace to allow God’s love for us to be mirrored through us to all others.