A Hiker’s Guide to Catholicism
To the Ends of the Earth: Action – Week 1, Day 5 – The Eucharist is About Love
Photo by Marcos Paulo Prado on Unsplash
Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God, and he who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God; for God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
1 John 4:7–9
There are many kinds of love: romantic love, brotherly love, the love of beauty or art, etc. But there is one love that surpasses all others: agape, which is the love that is willing to surrender all things for the good of another.
That is what Jesus did. He gave his life for us to make us worthy to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Jesus knew that many would reject his teaching on the Eucharist, yet he did not hold back on speaking the truth about it. As a result, many of his followers walked away. When Jesus asked his disciples if they wished to leave him also, “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God’” (Jn 6:68–69).
We can take comfort in these words of Peter. Will we be like Peter and acknowledge that there is no other who can satisfy all our longings? Let us today commit our lives more fully to our Savior and carry out his call to share the Gospel with the lost. Let us take in the words from John’s Gospel and marvel at the love that made the Lord of the universe our friend. May we choose this day to love others as Jesus has loved us.
Questions for Reflection
How are you living out Christ’s command to love others as he has loved you?
What one person in your life can you love in a sacrificial way today, following Jesus’ example?
How can you help another man draw near to the One who has the words of eternal life?
Praying with Scripture
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 Jn 3:16)
You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE
You can watch and listen to this devotion HERE
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About the Author
Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.
