'love one another as I have loved you' John 13

The love that Christ exhibited on the cross is the highest form of love ' agape' giving all seeking nothing in return .We refer to many types of love in this world but perhaps we are using the word in the wrong way? We talk of love of worldly wealth, love of power and influence but in truth any love that is tied to getting something in return is incomplete. True love such as love of a dawn sky is something which is intrinsically loveable and asks for nothing in return. This I believe is why charitable works and compassion are so important to the Christian faith. A love for all Gods creation no matter how flawed it may shows of course that Darwinian evolution can only be a part of the story. When you visit groups such as ' the sisters of mercy' you see Christs arms stretching out from the darkest of caves. The discarded waste of humanity come to the nuns doors and find a love that respects all regardless of color , creed or class . The sisters know full well that all they can expect to receive is the joy of doing Gods will. There is an almost incomprehensible majesty in watching this work take place it is the hallmark of all things which are close to the divine.

The philosopher Roger Scruton wrote so movingly about visiting another order of nuns in the Lebanon who look after abandoned children with severe physical and mental disorders. Somehow this orphanage set in a country where religion has been made an instrument for every kind of terrible cruelty , merciless killing and moral darkness makes their act of love even more stark. They reside side by side in a twisted world of so called religion where the worst works of the devil are stamped ' made by God'. But there is a curious truth that if you look at wherever the world is at its darkest you will also find Gods light shining at its brightest an eternal reminder of his presence.