Man cannot live without love  
Man cannot live without love. He remains a being that is incomprehensible for himself, his life is senseless, if love is not revealed to him, if he does not encounter love, if he does not experience it and make it his own, if he does not participate intimately in it. This, as has already been said, is why Christ the Redeemer "fully reveals man to himself". If we may use the expression, this is the human dimension of the mystery of the Redemption. In this dimension man finds again the greatness, dignity and value that belong to his humanity. In the mystery of the Redemption man becomes newly "expressed" and, in a way, is newly created. He is newly created! "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus"⁶⁴. The man who wishes to understand himself thoroughly-and not just in accordance with immediate, partial, often superficial, and even illusory standards and measures of his being-he must with his unrest, uncertainty and even his weakness and sinfulness, with his life and death, draw near to Christ. He must, so to speak, enter into him with all his own self, he must "appropriate" and assimilate the whole of the reality of the Incarnation and Redemption in order to find himself. If this profound process takes place within him, he then bears fruit not only of adoration of God but also of deep wonder at himself. How precious must man be in the eyes of the Creator, if he "gained so great a Redeemer"⁶⁵, and if God "gave his only Son "in order that man "should not perish but have eternal life"⁶⁶.
 
In reality, the name for that deep amazement at man's worth and dignity is the Gospel, that is to say: the Good News. It is also called Christianity. This amazement determines the Church's mission in the world and, perhaps even more so, "in the modern world". This amazement, which is also a conviction and a certitude-at its deepest root it is the certainty of faith, but in a hidden and mysterious way it vivifies every aspect of authentic humanism-is closely connected with Christ. It also fixes Christ's place-so to speak, his particular right of citizenship-in the history of man and mankind. Unceasingly contemplating the whole of Christ's mystery, the Church knows with all the certainty of faith that the Redemption that took place through the Cross has definitively restored his dignity to man and given back meaning to his life in the world, a meaning that was lost to a considerable extent because of sin. And for that reason, the Redemption was accomplished in the paschal mystery, leading through the Cross and death to Resurrection.
– Pope Saint John Paul II, excerpt from the Encyclical Letter REDEMPTOR HOMINIS
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
Happy Easter! 
 
The very first, of so many, Encyclical Letters of Pope Saint John Paul II is an important and worthy read – no doubt, we are familiar with it … yet, taking a moment to read this document in its entirety is highly recommended. 
 
Forgive me a brief reflection today – some days are not well-suited for ample reflection, my apologies.  But, there is an important note in the Encyclical Redemptor Hominis, really a theme for the Pontificate of Saint John Paul II: the truth of Divine Love, both for our existence and our manner of life as Christians.  As we know, love in the Divine sense and in our life as a Disciple of Christ is not a mere passing emotion, gut feeling, or flashing moment… Love is to sacrifice one’s self for the good of the other.  It is an action, a commitment, Love is a covenant of truth.  To this end, Divine Love incarnate is Jesus Christ who sacrificed himself for our salvation.  Christian Love is founded upon Divine Love.  As Christians – no matter our vocation, state in life, or circumstances – we are filled with the grace of God to make present Divine Love in our life and the lives of others.  This can be achieved through prayer, intercessory and thanksgiving, our commitment to the Gospel and obedience to the Truth of Christ as members of the Church, and in any variety of Acts of Mercy.  Because this understanding of Love is so unique from the cultural understanding and social norms, we often refer to it as Charity (especially in English, where we do not have as many distinctions or words for what we often translate as ‘Love’).  In any event, our reflection on the Redeemer of Man – Christ Jesus – leads us to consider the incredible depth of God’s Love for us and the subsequent new manner of life that the Grace of God enables us live, in conjunction with our free-will; we are able to live according to Charity. 
 
In these days, let our minds, hearts, and souls be refreshed by the Truth of Divine Love – so that in the smallest ways we can choose to live in accord with grace; in this way we can live as a saint, as one who makes present Charity in the moments that we are given.
 
Christ is Risen!  He is Risen, Indeed!
 
 
 
Know of my prayers for you, please pray for me!
 
Father Wilke
 
Saint Joseph, Guardian of the Redeemer, pray for us!