by Vladimir Bigdan, March 2009

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"Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it" - Matthew 21:43  

It only takes a quick glance around during a Saturday night Vigil for the question to eventuate. We look around and see two elderly ladies sitting down piously in the back of the church. Somewhere from amongst the clouds of candle-lit incense we hear a grand choir of three tired voices. A deep sadness enters in and brings back the terrifying words of our Lord spoken to the Pharisees. The cold realization comes to mind that those words are directed at us, some two thousand years later. They cut deep down into our souls causing a chill to run down the spine. Lord, have mercy on us!

1.- Love - Divine and Human. Preliminary remarks

Love, marriage, and sexuality concern everyone, because love is a vocation for everyone. As Christians, we believe that the entire creation was made through love. The source and end of all things is love, because the source and end of all things is God, and "God is love" (1 John 4 : 8, 16). St. John Chrysostom describes the all-embracing love of the incarnate God in a homily on the Gospel of Matthew :
"I am a father for you [says Christ) and a brother, a bridegroom and a home, a nurse and a dressing, a root and a cornerstone. Whatever you want, I am for you. My desire is that you have no need whatsoever. I shall serve you ; for I came not to be served, but to serve. I am a friend and a member and a head, a brother and a sister and a mother. I am everything for you. Just stay in communion with me. I have been poor for you and a wanderer for you, on the cross and in the tomb for you."