To love is to wish one well and to do all you can to bring that about. The gift of piety resembles the virtue of love. it gives me a childlike affection for God. I am obliged to love as God loves me. My love for you must be totally separated form whether or not you are lovable.
Through this gift you can see people in a totally different light. For instance, when you analyze why you don't like people, you will find it is because they do not do what you expect them to do., the don not give what you expect them to give, they do not please you. but if you love as God loves, you are not disappointed in anyone, because you know human nature.
The gift of piety makes me love. What is love? Love is an intangible desire, a giving of the self, something that makes my change for the better. "God is Love," St. John says (1 John 4:8). When I love Him as Father, a part of that love comes into me -- it is the Spirit. And when the Spirit of the Lord enters into my heart, He transforms me; He makes a new creation; a new mind, a new heart Love makes us new.
So my love for you must make you new, it must change both of us. You cannot posses God's love and give it to others without changing that person in some way. If your neighbor is not changed for the better because he knows you, you do not love him, you love yourself! The greatest witness of the first Christians was their love. "See how these Christians love each other," people said. We must love like that.
The fit of piety should do another thing for you. It should allow you to release everyone to the Lord. The gift of piety makes you look upon everyone as someone very precious with an immortal soul. It protects me form judging others. So every day ask the Spirit of the Lord to give you a great degree of the gift of piety that you might have patience and compassion, that you might love first and never be disappointed. Because, remember as you love your neighbor, so you love God.
God is Love
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