Today, Christmas Day, “a Savior has been born.” The Babe in the manger would affect humanity like no other. Jesus was in essence pure, radiant love. He lived this love; he taught this love. There are no limits to this love; there are no conditions where this love cannot be applied. In our hearts we seek to realize this same love. But we must first discern what exactly is this love.
The love that Jesus lived and taught is entirely selfless. This love is so powerful it scrapes away the accretions of life that have amassed on one’s soul. It cuts through the accumulated mental debris that obscure one’s perception of their soul. It is pure, limitless spiritual love…agapē, the innocent love of the unguarded soul. This love can be felt in one’s heart and manifested in one’s life.
The first of the nine fruits of the spirit is love (Galatians 5:22). St. Paul poetically, inspirationally describes the primacy of love:
I am nothing. (1 Corinthians 13:2)
And so today Love became incarnate, the “Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.” It is up to us to realize the essence of pure love in our own hearts. May this selfless love incarnate each day in our souls and in our lives.
