What is Divine Love?

We have been though a long fasting period, experienced the Crucifixion of our Lord and then the joy of His Resurrection and the promise of our own resurrection.  The joy of this celebration cannot be fully expressed.  We find that there is a love within us that no one can take away from us.  It is the Christ who lives within each of us.


Elder Porphyrios says,

Christ is everything.  He is our love.  He is the object of our desire.  This passionate longing for Christ is a love that cannot be taken away.  This is where joy flows from.

How do you experience this joy?  When we encounter Christ within we feel as if we are intoxicated with spiritual wine of the best vintage.  We find it difficult to contain and impossible to express.  The challenge we all face after this great celebration is to let his joy flow out from us in an outpouring of our love for each other.


This joy can be maintained though an Orthodox Way of Life.  Review it. Continually evaluate your current activities and gradually bring them in line with this joy you experience from the Pascha celebration.


Elder Porphyrios says,

Fast as much as you can, make as many prostrations as you can, attend as many vigils as you like, but be joyful.  Have Christ's joy.  It is the joy that lasts forever, that brings eternal happiness.  It is the joy of  our Lord that gives assured serenity, serene delight and full happiness.  All joyful joy that surpasses every joy. Christ desires and delights in scattering joy, in enriching his faithful with joy.  I pray that your joy may be full.

Quotes from Wounded by Love, p 96