We are in the last weeks of the Church’s liturgical year so for the next two weeks the readings will be taken from the Book of Revelation which speaks of the end of things. John the Seer starts of f the book with a series of letters addressed to local churches. The first of these letters is to the Church in Ephesus, one of the most important centers of early Christianity. The letter begins by accenting the positive (always a good strategy if a chiding word is to follow.) “I know your works, your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot tolerate the wicked … and you have not grown weary.” The Church in Ephesus was working hard, preserving the faith, even in the midst of adversity. Then comes the admonition: I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Like an old married couple who have drifted apart, the Church was going through the motions but without love. During his time as Pope, Pope Francis has stressed how necessary it is for us for us as Church to do whatever we do with love. It is simply not enough merely to staff our parishes, defend right belief, dole out charity, educate the young. We must do all those things and anything else we do out of love for God and love of neighbor.
