Scripture

“This is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight …” Philippians 1:9

Reflections

The Apostle Paul lifted up a beautiful prayer for the believers in Philippi.  It was a prayer that could apply to us as well; “that your love may overflow more and more”.

What does he mean by “more and more”?  Is he suggesting that there is no end to it?  Absolutely.  The more we love, the more love there is to give.  We never run out.  Think of the image of a water fountain.  Water comes out from it.  It continues to flow.  There is no end in sight.  Our God is not a God of scarcity but abundance.  He lavishes his favor and love upon us.  It knows no end.

This is what he does for us.  When we trust in him and follow in his ways, he fills us with his love and continues to pour out his love.  We are more than satisfied.  His love overflows from our hearts.  As we hear from Jesus in John 4:14, “Those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty.  The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”

We are a people who need to be loved and to love.  As St. John Chrysostom of the 4th century wrote of God’s love, “There is no end to such love.  Anyone who is loved so deeply, loved in this way, wishes to be loved all the more.  There is no measure to love.  One who loves and is loved in return does not wish that love to stop but to increase.”

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for your overflowing love.  Fill me with your love so that it might gush out all over.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Full Reading: Philippians 1:3-11

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