Op-ed: Christmas is Love
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The greatest connection in the Holy Bible is Jesus fulfilling all the prophecies in the New Testament predicted by the prophets of the Old Testament, from His human birth to His spiritual resurrection. No student of the Holy Bible can deny that very significant reality. It is what made me an avid believer that Jesus was truly the son of God.
To me, Jesus' greatest doctrine was the emphasis on "Love." He condensed the Ten Commandments into the two greatest commandments of all. First and foremost, "Love God with all your heart, mind and soul." Second, and just as important, "Love your neighbor as yourself."
That seems very easy to follow at first glance, but as humans we struggle each and every day to live by them.
St. Paul, one of God's greatest apostles, who considered himself to be the "worst of sinners," was still chosen by Jesus to spread the gospel to the gentiles. He wrote more specifically about love in First Corinthians, Chapter 13. St. Paul stresses while "hope and faith" are very important in our lives, they are worthless without love. Allow me to paraphrase some qualities of love that St. Paul taught his followers:
1. Love is being kind to others.
2. Love is being patient with others.
3. Love is being forgiving.
4. Love is being able to forget the sins of those who offended you.
5. Love is being honest and truthful.
6. Love is being persistent and never giving up.
7. Love is eternal.
As mortal beings, our time on Earth is temporary and what is seen is only a faint glimpse of what is to come. Our faith and hope in the unseen are eternal and our immortal souls will become perfect in the eyes of our Heavenly Father. That is why we must always love one another, as God unconditionally loves us.
He loves us so much that He sent his only son, Jesus, on Christmas Day, who was destined to wipe away all our sins on the Cross. Full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus became one of us so that we could become one with Him in Paradise.
Jesus was God's ultimate loving Christmas present to humanity. Let us not forget this on the most glorious and precious day of the year.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!