Gtpministries.org – Fasting is one of the rituals or religious worship that is always performed by all the followers of religion in the world since the previous peoples until now. Fasting is one of the forms of religious rites that can improve the spiritual quality of humans and as a means of self-purification in order to draw closer to God, which in its implementation refers to the respective scriptures.

Fasting in each religion has a different concept, as does fasting in Christianity. However, what needs to be understood is how religious communities are able to understand, realize and appreciate the fundamental meanings contained therein, rather than being trapped in the realm of formality.

Fasting in the Old Testament comes from the Hebrew  tsum, tsom  and  ‘inna nafsyô  which literally means to humble oneself by fasting. In the New Testament, fasting comes from the Greek  nêsteuô  (not eating),  nêsteia , and  nêstis . In the Bible, the letter of the Acts of the Apostles (27: 21, 33), the words asitia and asistos are used (Douglas (ed.), 2008: 280).

Fasting is a voluntary act of abstaining completely or partially from food and/or drink, either for religious purposes or for other purposes (Heuken, 1994: 52), for example as an expression of sorrow and suffering, sorrow or sin, as well as wanting to reflect on things that holy (Sismono, 2010: 76).

Fasting in the Bible generally means not eating or drinking for a certain time (eg Est 4: 16), not always abstaining from certain foods (Douglas (ed.), 2008: 280). Fasting is also not done seasonally (Agung, 2003: 3).

Legal Basis for Fasting
In the Bible there is a statement that fasting is one of the things that every Christian needs to do apart from giving/zakat and praying. As explained by Franklin (2009: 11) that during the years when Jesus lived on earth, Jesus took time to teach his disciples about the principles of God’s kingdom, principles that were in conflict with worldly principles.

In the Sermon on the Mount, namely Jesus’ most famous sermon which was spoken while sitting (Bleeker, 1995: 77), specifically in Matthew 6, Jesus provides a pattern for how humans live as children of God. According to Franklin (2009: 11), this pattern is three special obligations for a Christian, namely giving alms (Matthew 6:1-4), praying (Matthew 6: 5-6), and fasting (Matthew 6: 16-18).

In the matter of fasting, Mat 6:16-18 mentions, “And when you fast, do not be gloomy like the hypocrites. They change their facial expressions, so that people see that they are fasting. I say to you: Verily they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that no one sees that you are fasting, but only your Father who is in the secret place. Then your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you”

In carrying out the teachings above (giving, praying and fasting), it should not be used as an exhibition of piety, but should be made a purely internal matter. That is, let God alone know about our giving, our prayers, and our fasting. All of this is used to further deepen the command in the Bible that the implementation of a teaching is not enough as a mere rite, but must be interpreted and lived with a sincere heart.

Jesus himself fasted twice a week and paid zakat of one tenth of his income. As stated in the Bible (Luke 18: 12): “I fast twice a week and I give a tenth of all my income.”

Jesus explained that fasting, like giving and prayer, is a normal part of the Christian life. The attention given to fasting should be as great as the attention given to giving and praying (Franklin, 2009:11). As stated in the Bible, “And if one person can be defeated, two will survive. Three cords are not easily broken” (Eccl. 4: 12). What is meant by the three ropes here are giving, praying and fasting.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. All the good news we hear gives us joy and adds energy to do various activities. The good news is beautiful and pleasing. We do not lose a bit when we bring good news. On the other hand, bad news drains energy.

We need to determine our attitude, whether we need to listen to bad news and get lost in it or ignore it and learn from it to develop ourselves further. We often find that quite a few people have the habit of telling bad news.

The prophet Isaiah did not only appear to give condemnation and prophesy about punishment for the nation of Israel. He appeared to announce the news of salvation and good news to be given to the nation of Israel.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The Gospel of John 1:6-8.19-28 which we heard on this third Sunday of Advent, talks about John the Baptist, a great figure during this Advent season who was sent by God as a witness to testify to us that the Light we are waiting for- stay tuned for that to come soon.

In today’s Gospel, we are invited to witness how John’s action in carrying out his mission. John came out boldly preaching about the coming Light before many people. In carrying out his mission, Yohanes truly fulfilled his role, namely as a messenger.

Therefore, when people asked about his identity, John answered honestly that he was not the long-awaited Light. He is not the Messiah. He was just an ordinary person sent to proclaim an extraordinary Him.

John said that he was only a messenger to testify that the True Light would soon come. The True Light is Jesus. He is the one who has the power to save and forgive. It was Jesus who was preached by John the Baptist.

The character of John the Baptist in today’s Gospel gives us many important lessons for our lives. John has shown an attitude that is very worthy for us to emulate in this era. One of the attitudes he shows is humility. This humble attitude was shown by John when people listened to his preaching and many people asked about his identity, was he the Light?

To this question, John answered honestly that he was not the Light. He was not the Messiah, he was just an ordinary person sent to bear witness to the Light that was to come. This is one of the humility shown by John. Even though at that time, many people followed him and believed and thought that he was the Light. He is the Savior.

However, John did not want to deceive his believers and those who followed him. John still refers to the essence of his preaching that he is only a messenger. He is not the awaited Savior. This attitude shown by John wants to make us realize that we should not be greedy, cheat and deceive people with our fame. John teaches us to dare to be ourselves. Proud to be ourselves with what we have.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The question for us is what should we do to welcome the coming of our Savior?

First, what we must do is prepare ourselves well, namely filling this Advent period with a deep spirit of repentance. Therefore we must cleanse our hearts and minds from all stains of sin. We must abandon our old way of life which is displeasing before God and before others and with great humility we come to the confessional to ask for forgiveness from God.

Second, we start a new life, namely a life that is pleasing to God. This deep repentance must lead us to a new life, namely a life that is open to God’s grace, especially open to being guided by God’s grace. We must become more open to living according to God’s will.

Third, live in love. Deep repentance and a new life that is pleasing to God, then move us to live out our love for others.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the mission of the Light proclaimed by John the Baptist in the Gospel we hear today. The Light is He who came to spread love to mankind. And at the same time, the Light asks us to also spread love to others. Today we enter the third week of Advent.

The third Sunday of Advent is called Gaudete Week or the Week of Joy. It is said to be a week of joy, joy because the Light, Jesus, whose arrival we have been waiting for, is getting closer. Therefore, we should rejoice and rejoice in welcoming His coming. He who will come will be so great, so noble and full of love and will bring peace to the world. So, we must prepare ourselves well so that when He comes we are ready to receive grace from Him.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Let’s prepare ourselves as well as possible this Advent season. It’s never too late to prepare ourselves if we want to do it. We must cleanse ourselves from all stains of sin. Leaving our old way of life that is not pleasing to God with inner preparation and with a deep attitude of repentance. May the Holy Spirit always guide and guide us so that we are able to prepare ourselves well.

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Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. With hearts full of joy and hope, we will soon pass through Advent and welcome Christmas, a time full of hope and joy for the coming of the Savior.

Today’s Gospel, taken from Luke 1:26-38, brings us to a very special moment, when the Angel Gabriel came to Mary to tell the good and joyful news of God’s plan through Mary.

First, deep obedience to God’s will. Maria is a figure who obeys and obeys the will of God. When the Angel Gabriel brought the news that she would be pregnant with the Son of God, Mary’s humble response became an example for all of us. In Luke 1:38, Mary said, “Indeed I am the servant of God, let it be done to me according to your word.”

Mary’s deep obedience is a reflection of a heart that humbles itself before God’s will. The first message we can take from this story is the importance of our obedience to God’s will in our daily lives. Just as Mary gave a sincere and trusting answer, we are also invited to always be ready to accept and live in His will.

Second, strong belief in God’s promises. When Mary received this good news, she not only showed great obedience, but also had strong confidence in God’s promises. Even though the situation she faced seemed impossible according to human logic, Mary did not hesitate to believe that all things are possible with God.

From Mary’s life, we can learn to build strong faith in God, even in the midst of life’s uncertainties and challenges. God’s promises are a solid foundation for us, and a firm trust in Him will guide us through every darkness. Like Mary, let’s look at God’s promises as a guide for our lives.

Third, be ready to be a tool for God’s plan. Mary not only accepted this good news as her own personal joy, but she realized that the birth of this Child was part of God’s plan to save humanity. Humbly, he was ready to become an instrument in God’s hands to carry out His plan. The third message we can take from this story is the call to be ready to become instruments for God’s plan in our lives.

As Mary realized that her life had a purpose greater than herself, so we are invited to realize that we are part of God’s greater plan. Let us be willing to sacrifice our own will and desires in order to carry out His plan in this life.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. In Mary’s story we see an example of a servant of God who is obedient, trusting, and ready to be a tool for God’s plan. Let us take inspiration from his life and absorb the messages contained in the Gospel of Luke 1:26-38. Through the birth of Jesus Christ, salvation is offered to all who believe. This is the essence of the joy of Christmas – the coming of the Savior who brings salvation to mankind. Amen.

Gtpministries.org – Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. As humans we must have a solid and strong foundation in living this life. Likewise, when we behave, we must have a foundation, which makes us not easily shake in the midst of the storms and tempests of this life. The attitude of our hearts and bodies will definitely adapt to the place where we are. That is a brief description of people who have a strong foundation in life.

The evangelist John tells how Jesus cleansed the Temple of God from the custom of buying and selling practiced by the Jews at that time. It is told before the Jewish Passover, Jesus went to Jerusalem and entered the Temple of God, and He found people who were abusing the presence and sanctity of the Temple of God.

Jesus was angry and raged. He expelled the traders of sacrificial animals and money changers. Jesus’ anger happened because He loved the Temple of God very much. The Temple of God which should be the place of God’s presence and residence in the midst of His people has been defiled by the actions of merchants and money changers who work together with the Temple of God officers. They have defiled the Temple of God with acts of extortion, injustice, corruption, and structured oppression.

The Temple of God, which should be a place where people meet God, seek God’s will, is instead made a fertile ground for doing unlaudable acts that are against God’s will. What is even worse is that all these actions are wrapped in a spiritual frame in order to manipulate the actual fact that some seek profit at the expense of others; that is very contrary to His option or choice. Jesus’ mission in this world is to preach the good news about the Kingdom of God in the middle of the world.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The narrative above provides a perfect understanding for us in understanding the existence of the Temple of God. However, there are differences that appear in the location of the cleansing of the Temple in Jesus’ story. For John, this event functions as action; First, Jesus in public. This narrative is found here because John believed it to be a paradigm or example of the entire life and ministry of Jesus.

Second, of importance to John is the conversation that accompanies the action that expels the merchants from the Temple. The conversation that took place (cf. John 2:18-25), clearly centered on the question, “who is Jesus, in His own eyes, that He considers Himself to have to improve the series of activities usually carried out by the officials of the Temple of God?” This was the right position and what John wanted so that the existence of Jesus would be better understood by everyone, including the religious leaders at that time.

The religious leaders asked Jesus to give a “sign”, that He had the authority to act to expel them from the Temple. They did not understand the signs that Jesus gave. “He said that He could rebuild the Temple within three days after it was destroyed. In reality He was talking about Himself.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The core of the issue here is the view that lived in the Jewish community at that time that saw the Temple of God as a symbol of God’s presence in the midst of His people. The temple of God is the dwelling place of God. This view and teaching is what made Jesus’ disciples realize and understand Jesus’ actions.

John records: “Love for Your house consumes Me.” And the remembrance of this made His disciples know Him, and after His resurrection they believed in Him.

The house of God that Jesus refers to refers to His body (Himself). The house of God is a sign of God’s real presence in the world, therefore the love for God’s house that burns in Jesus’ heart, is real love and acceptance for fellow human beings, especially those who are small, simple, weak and marginalized.

We are the Temple of God (1Cor.3:16-17). The event of the purification of the Temple of God is an invitation for us to maintain our purity by staying away from sin. The event is also an invitation to dare to voice the truth and justice in the midst of our society which is still filled with injustice.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus offered himself. In Him there is eternal salvation, which will not be destroyed by age or circumstances. In the past, the Israelites thought that by taking control of the Temple of God, they would be safe. So many people abuse Bait Allah for material, position, and position.

Jesus reminded us that the Temple of God is not a guarantee of salvation, He himself is the basis and ultimate guarantee of salvation. Question for all of us; Which Jesus do we base our lives on? Jesus is present in others. Jesus who greets us through the situations of the people we meet. If we are friendly towards others, we will also be friendly towards God. If we suspect someone, we also suspect God.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. In this season of Lent; let us improve the basis of our lives by being sensitive and caring about social concerns. Being sensitive or caring is not only touched by God’s suffering, but also motivated to do something for others.

We live in society, we associate with society, we are touched by society’s concerns. Are our hearts moved to help? Are we moved to pay attention to them? This is what the Church reminds us of today. Do we want to base our lives on Jesus who is present in our neighbors?

Today there are many attitudes that are not right in the synagogue and require repentance. Are we still waiting for Jesus to overturn our attitudes and behavior? Let us improve our attitude in life, especially when we are in church, which is a place to meet God and others, a place to cultivate ourselves closer to Him.

Jesus, whom we use as a role model, does not stay confined in the church but is present in others. Let us ask for a sensitive heart so that we are able to listen and answer Jesus’ greeting with the blessing of God the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gtpministries.org – Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The Gospel of John 1:35-42 describes an initial meeting between Jesus and two of John’s disciples, who later became disciples of Jesus. John shows Jesus as the “Son of God” and when Jesus asks them, “What do you seek?” they followed Him. Andrew, one of the disciples, immediately invited Simon Peter, his brother, to meet Jesus. After the meeting, Jesus gave Simon a new name, Cephas, which means rock.

The initial encounter between Jesus and His disciples reflects the uniqueness and depth of Christ’s calling. John’s unequivocal reference to Jesus as the Son of God begins this momentous series of events, and His disciples respond to His call. Jesus’ question, “What are you looking for?” creates a moment of spiritual introspection, inviting them to search for deeper meaning in their lives.

The disciples who followed Jesus with longing demonstrated a desire to know Him better, not just as a teacher, but as their Savior. In the invitation to see His dwelling place, Jesus invites them to come closer, to delve into His life. This is a call to deep communion with Him. Andreas, quickly sharing the experience of his encounter with his brother, creates a model that inspires us to share the joy of our faith with others.

The giving of Simon Peter a new name indicates the transformation that is possible through an encounter with Christ. From a simple fisherman, he was identified as a solid “rock” in the formation of the Church. This shows that His call brings transformation and a higher purpose.

In a broader context, the Gospel of John 1:35-42 underlines the importance of being willing to respond sincerely and quickly to Christ’s call. Andrew and Simon Peter demonstrated a readiness to leave everything behind and follow Jesus without hesitation. This creates a powerful picture of the required response to Christ’s call, namely the willingness to leave everything behind to follow Him.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The Gospel of John 1:35-42 gives us an in-depth look at personal calling and the transformation that is possible through an encounter with Jesus Christ. Jesus’ question, “What are you looking for?” remains relevant in our lives today. This is an invitation for spiritual reflection, moving us to assess our motivations and goals in life.

The importance of sharing faith experiences with others is also a valuable lesson. Andrew not only followed Jesus himself, but enthusiastically introduced his brother to Jesus. This confirms that Christ’s call is not only for personal gain, but also to give blessings to others.

In everyday life, we are invited to be witnesses of Christ, sharing His love and truth with others. The good news we have in Christ must be conveyed to others through words and deeds. The willingness to share personal experiences with Christ is a clear manifestation of response to His call.

Giving Simon Peter a new name teaches us that Christ’s call brought significant change. Through meeting Him, we can discover potential that we may never have realized. This motivates us to face His call with courage and confidence that Christ can shape and use our lives for His glory.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Christ’s call is a call to know Him, follow Him sincerely, share the joy of our faith, and be ready to experience a formative transformation. In modern life which is full of challenges, this Gospel reading provides a solid foundation and inspiration for following in the footsteps of followers of Jesus Christ. His call is not just for the past, but a call that is relevant and alive for every soul who is open and ready to receive Him.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Indifference and indifference towards others who are sick can be caused by our selfishness, as individual humans. However, when living as a social creature in society, changes in attitudes may occur.

For example, when we ourselves are sick, the attention and concern of others (family, friends, neighbors, etc.) makes us aware and think that a helping hand of love or care and concern for others who are sick is important, especially when we are far from other people. parents or family. At the very least, praying for those who are sick is a form of love and concern for serving others who are sick whenever and wherever they are found.

Saint Arnold Janssen, SVD once emphasized that the sick and the victims they bring in pain and suffering are a blessing for the mission and salvation of many people. That is why we need to change our egoic and indifferent nature and start developing a caring attitude towards those who are sick, even just by praying, so that God will strengthen us and give healing.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The Gospel reading of Mark 1: 29 -39 which is read today is an illustration for all of us, that Jesus is a healer or doctor who really loves and cares for sick people, both body and soul. Jesus’ real love made Him even more loved and missed by many people.

Jesus healed all the sick and demon-possessed people who were brought to Him. They all experienced joy thanks to the power of God in Jesus. Where Jesus is, there is joy and love.

We are also invited to give love and care to others. This work of Jesus should be kept alive until forever remembering the salvation that Jesus preached and continued by His Church is the integral salvation of soul and body, today and in the future, which must be realized here and now (Hic et nunc).

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. For us Catholics, realizing the news and work of Jesus who loves and cares about serving the sick is very urgent to get attention. Because, the Church’s task should not only be to pay attention to mental or spiritual health, but also physical or physical health, which of course can be achieved if the food is healthy, the place to live is healthy, and the economy is healthy to support oneself and one’s family.

The duty and calling of all of us, especially the Ministry of Religion today, is to provide assistance and help those who care for the sick through fostering family assistance and counseling as a form of caring that is aware that in this work and assistance, we bring to life Jesus’ love and concern for the sick. . By moving to help make Indonesia physically and mentally healthy, in this way Catholics can manifest the message of the love of Jesus Christ to everyone.

May the love of Christ keep us from being selfish and not caring about others, especially the sick.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The Evangelist Mark tells the story of the beginning of Jesus’ journey by presenting a very good impression of the people in Capernaum. It is said that people were amazed at Jesus’ teaching. In fact, according to them, Jesus taught as a person in authority, not the same as the scribes.

With this depiction, the evangelist Mark actually wanted to emphasize that Jesus had a teaching authority that came from God. This authority gave Jesus authority that made Him respected by his listeners.

In the following stories, we will be able to understand why Jesus’ preaching was always able to inspire awe in the hearts of the people who came to hear Him. This is because Jesus is always able to make the words he conveys come alive.

The teaching authority that Jesus had was very different from the teaching authority that the scribes had. Torah experts are respected because they are experts in Torah law who explain the Torah itself for followers of the Jewish religion. The scribes were tasked with compiling rules and regulations for every situation in Jewish religious life. This is what makes them have a very high position and become members of the Sanhedrin (religious court) alongside the high priest and Jewish elders.

Meanwhile, to describe Jesus’ teaching authority, the evangelist Mark uses the term respected. This shows that even though Jesus was not included in the group of scribes who had a high position in society, he still had the authority to teach.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. When it is said that Jesus is respected and not just revered, there are two important things behind this. First, as the Son of God, Jesus certainly received the power to teach from God. He not only conveyed the Word of God, but He was the Word itself. Jesus is the fullness of God’s promise of salvation.

Second, Jesus lived out every teaching he conveyed. Unlike the scribes and Pharisees who tended to be kind and carry out religious commandments when in public, Jesus lived out the law and all the contents of His preaching well.

On many occasions, the Gospel texts often provide changing descriptions of the reactions of the people who heard the teachings and witnessed the actions of Jesus. On one occasion, the people were amazed by what He said and did, but on another occasion they could not accept or even rejected His presence (cf. Mark 6:1-6).

However, behind the rejection of Jesus, there is a sense of admiration for his figure. When the people of Nazareth expelled Jesus, they were amazed at the power of teaching that Jesus showed them. The Gospel recorded the statement they made “What wisdom was given to Him? How can such miracles be done by His hands? Isn’t He the carpenter, son of Mary, brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us?”

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. For us, the testimony of Jesus’ life is a guide in living out the Catholic faith. Just as Jesus not only understood but was serious about living the Torah law, so too should we not just have the status of a Catholic but live that Catholicism. The authority of each of us as children of God will be seen in our attitude of life and deep appreciation of faith.

Let’s strengthen our commitment to bear witness to evangelical life as children of God.

Gtpministries.org – Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. It doesn’t feel like we have entered the fourth period of Lent in March and we deserve to always be grateful to God for the protection, health and safety given to us.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. The Gospel of John 3:14-21 records a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a religious expert. Jesus used the parable of Moses raising the bronze serpent in the desert to save the Israelites who were bitten by poisonous snakes, as an illustration of salvation through His sacrifice on the cross. Jesus would be “exalted” on the cross to save humanity.

Jesus taught that God loved the world so He sent His Son, not to judge the world, but to save it. However, those who believe in Him will be saved, while those who do not believe will be judged by the truth. Light has come into the world, but men chose darkness because their deeds were evil. Those who do righteousness will come to the light, while those who do evil will love darkness.

The conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus provides insight into the nature of God’s love and His plan to save humanity. The analogy of the bronze serpent in the desert refers to the moment where the Israelites were saved from the bite of a poisonous snake by the mere sight of the bronze serpent held aloft by Moses.

Likewise, faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of Man lifted up on the cross brings salvation. “Exalting” Jesus on the cross reflects His sacrifice that removes sin and gives mankind the opportunity to live in salvation. This emphasizes the importance of faith as the key to obtaining eternal life.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Jesus revealed that salvation comes through faith in Him as Savior. The parable of the bronze serpent illustrates that salvation is the result of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. This shows God’s infinite love, because He not only loved the world, but also gave His Son as a way of salvation.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ. First, the message about the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as the way of salvation emphasizes the importance of sacrifice and forgiveness. In the midst of the complexity of modern life which is often filled with conflict and division, this message invites us all to practice an attitude of forgiveness, prioritize kindness, and seek ways of peace in all situations.

Second, how God’s love for the world is something universal and unlimited. It emphasizes the importance of compassion, empathy, and concern for others, regardless of differences in culture, religion, or social background.

Third, the call to live in light and avoid darkness teaches us all to choose truth and integrity in all aspects of life, both in personal actions and in social and political policies.

Fourth, as believers, we are called to be witnesses of God’s love to the world. In the multicultural and multireligious context of Indonesia, this message invites us all to practice tolerance, respect differences, and work together to create social justice and sustainable peace. All of this refers to the call to live according to the teachings of Christ, bringing peace and love to others.

Gtpministries.org – Since the beginning of life in the Church, the demands and conditions for becoming a disciple of Christ have seemed easy and simple. Namely, a person must express his faith in God through Jesus Christ. After that, the person is baptized with water and the Holy Spirit.

This simple condition does not mean that it is enough to be a Catholic just by saying the confession of faith or the creed of faith. Being a Catholic is of course bound by the obligation to live and practice one’s faith correctly and well, in accordance with God’s own command. And this obligation is not to bind a person to a law that does not make him free, but so that God’s love becomes more alive and fruitful and gives full joy to everyone who is able to carry it out. The law that is lived and carried out with love sends every believer to the experience of God’s love.

Each of us certainly wants to experience what is called ‘full joy’ so how do we fight for it or obtain it? Jesus clearly gave the answer: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.” Perfect joy only comes from acts of love according to Jesus’ commands.

On this Sunday, the Lord Jesus continued this important message and called it a new commandment for us to love one another. The basis of love is the Father who loves Jesus as His Son and Jesus who loves us as His friends. So we are encouraged to remain always in His love. The Lord Jesus actually showed a new locus for feeling love and loving. The new locus is Himself as the center of love.

For Jesus, love for God becomes perfect when we have an inner attitude to obey all His commandments. Jesus has obeyed the command of the Father in heaven to give himself as the redeemer of the world. For us, the most important commandment according to Jesus’ teachings is to love God and neighbor to the end.

God gave a new commandment to love one another because He has first loved us. God not only gave the command to love one another, but He already loved us very much by giving His own life on the cross. He himself has set an example and role model.

This true love directs us to inner repentance and invites us to imitate Him when we carry out His commands by carrying out our duties and works of service every day. Serving God is realized in working to fulfill His will. That is the content of His command. And we do the work we do in serving God with a heart full of gratitude and joy. Why? Because the Father’s love for His Son has been the basis for the exercise of our love for others and is also a concrete statement of the sign of Jesus’ friendship with us.

The service in love that we live and carry out through obedience to carry out His commands is supported by the help of God Himself through the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of God accompanied the work of Peter (reading I), to serve and enthrone Cornelius. The love that we manifest in service should take the form of a praxis of love that is full of sacrifice and inclusive love, applicable and aimed at everyone whom God pleases regardless of ethnicity, race, religion, and should even apply to our enemies.

Let us live in love and live our lives with love and bear fruit in love because God is Love (reading II), and only to God, our life achieves its purpose and obtains its fullness. The most important form of life as a follower of Christ is obeying God’s commands, living in the spirit of love and wanting to practice that love for one another, especially for anyone who is burdened by the covid-19 pandemic.

Jesus Himself has shown the essence of His coming to this world by giving up his life for the salvation of humans and teaching all of us, His followers, to want to do the same: “This is My commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved You.”

God always accompanies us with His Holy Spirit when we live and practice that love in our real actions and work in our daily lives. Amen.

BUENOS AIRES,  – Gtpministries.org – Argentina’s President, Javier Milei, said abortion “is murder that is aggravated by the bond between mother and child”. He also condemned “voluntary termination of pregnancy,” a euphemism for killing a child in the womb.

Milei’s statement was part of a speech dated March 6, 2024, at Cardenal Copello High School in Buenos Aires, where Milei once attended school.

In Argentine criminal law, “aggravated murder by family ties” is a level of murder where the murderer and victim are related by blood. During her election campaign, Milei had promised that she would repeal her country’s permissive abortion laws. He targeted pro-abortion activists who commonly wore scarves emblazoned with the words “legal, safe and free abortion,” displayed during their campaign to legalize abortion in 2020 early in President Alberto Fernández’s term.

“For me, abortion is murder aggravated by bondage and I can show it from a mathematical and philosophical point of view, from liberalism and also from a biological point of view,” Milei said in front of an auditorium filled with students and teachers at the school.

“What politicians do is party and pass laws to a generation that hasn’t even been born yet, and some politicians, who also try to kill, are killers wearing green scarves,” Milei said as reported

Although Milei’s administration has repeatedly stated its opposition to abortion, in the first three months of his term as president, he has not introduced a specific bill that aligns with this idea. In Argentina, bills can also be submitted to congress by the executive branch.

Days before the 2023 election, Milei’s then-candidate and now-vice-president Victoria Villarruel said in an interview that repealing the abortion law was an issue that was “not very urgent considering the economy is very tough.

However, last February Congresswoman Rocío Bonacci, a member of La Libertad Avanza (Progress of Freedom), the winning political coalition led by Milei, introduced a bill to repeal existing abortion laws. This sparked controversy within the coalition, as he did not receive coalition approval and the president himself was not consulted.

“This bill is my initiative, not the initiative of the executive branch, and is submitted for consideration by the body of which I am a member. I defend life. “No more, no less,” said Bonacci at the time.