“Have you been in love?” “Are you attracted to the opposite sex?” “Have you been in a relationship?” are questions asked by people, Catholic or not, of priests, theologians, seminarians, and even nuns. I would rather answer those questions in person, physically present so I could see the facial expressions.

We have to be clear about our notions when we talk of love. We are supposed to love someone without any expectations. Love that is given freely, without judgment and without needing anything in return. Essentially, we love a person for who they are, not for what they do or what they can provide for us. 

Ladies and young girls, please take note that love is “an intense feeling of deep affection,” that is why we cannot really explain it. Again, ladies and young girls, always remember, we obey God’s command to put on love and respect regardless of the circumstances. If we refuse to obey this command, we tend to rationalize (tell ourselves rational lies) and believe that others have caused us to be harsh and rude.

When I say that we should love one another unconditionally, this involves acceptance, support, commitment, thus creating a deep, lasting bond between individuals regardless of circumstances, flaws and challenges. Let us have that opportunity to demonstrate our love for one another. 

As Christians, we are expected to interact with one another with a love and concern that reveals our strong love and appreciation for each other. Jesus’s new commandment is “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus is teaching us to love others with a sacrificial, selfless, self-giving and unconditional love.

Agape love is the love of mankind and is God’s divine love for all mankind. It is the faithful love of God for humans as well as humans’ reciprocal love for God. This is the highest form of love and is contrasted by eros (erotic love) and philia (brotherly love). 

Eros love is passionate love or romantic love. It is the love shared by married couples or long-term couples. Philia love is the love of friends and equals. It is the love among close friends or extended family. Then we have Storge love which is the love that parents have for their children and children for their parents. It is the love shown between brothers and sisters.

Last Friday morning was the Fiesta Mass in honor of Saint Luigi Orione and since Tuesday afternoon the workers and active parishioners of the Mother of Divine Providence Parish were busy making preparations and doing their assigned tasks for the success of the activities. 

My special greetings to the very energetic Reverend Father John S. Castillo, FDP, for despite his busy schedule as the Delegate Superior of their congregation, the Sons of Divine Providence (Italian: Figli della Divina Provvidenza), commonly called the Orionine Fathers, he is still able to lead the Catholic faithful as their pastor. 

Also my gratitude to the parish secretary, Ms Rhealyn “Yhang” T. Navarro, and the assistant secretary, Stipi “Tep” E. Sanchez. To the various ministries, the altar servers led by Ms Jobelle Soliven, the lectors, greeters and collectors, the choir, the Mother Butler Guild of course at Saint Benedict chapel, the youth, and the various homeowner associations within the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the parish under the Roman Catholic diocese of Novaliches.