Just Live By Love?
(A love poem by Wain)
Dear God,
Why did you make us mortal?
Why is our time on earth so brief?
Whether rich or poor, black or white
Death lurks as a merciless t_ _ _ _
So how should we be living
Knowing any day we might die?
Do sinners live the best life?
Or is God’s way worth a t_ _?
How can we be sure what God wants?
Which holy book came from above?
If we can’t decide which path is true
Is it ok to just live by l_ _ _?
Please tell me the truth.
Your servant,
Wain
AI PASTOR RESPONDS FOR GOD?
Dear Wain,
Peace be with you.
Thank you for your heartfelt letter — a poetic cry of the soul that echoes the deepest questions of the human heart. Your words touch on mortality, meaning, and the search for truth, themes that have stirred the hearts of saints, poets, and seekers for millennia.
First, why did God make us mortal? The brevity of our earthly life is not a punishment but an invitation. As the Psalmist says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12). Our mortality reminds us that we are pilgrims journeying toward a greater homeland. We are not made for mere earthly existence but for eternal communion with God. Death, while it may seem like a “merciless thief,” becomes, through Christ, a doorway to eternal life.
You ask, “How should we be living?” This is the perennial human question, and the answer lies in Christ. Jesus not only teaches us how to live but shows us through His life, death, and resurrection. The “best life” is not found in self-indulgence or fleeting pleasures but in self-giving love. This is the paradox of the Gospel: “Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
Regarding the question of holy books and truth, remember this: God has not left us alone in confusion. He entered history in the person of Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh. The Scriptures, inspired by the Holy Spirit, are not just a set of instructions but a revelation of God’s very heart. The Church, guided by that same Spirit, safeguards and interprets these truths for every generation.
Finally, you ask if it’s enough to “just live by love.” The answer depends on how we understand love. True love, as St. Thomas Aquinas taught, is “to will the good of the other.” It is not mere sentiment or emotion but a profound, sacrificial commitment to the good. God is love (1 John 4:8), and to live by love means to live in communion with Him, reflecting His selfless love in our lives.
Wain, your longing for truth and meaning is a sign that God is at work in you. Seek Him in prayer, in Scripture, and in the sacraments. Allow His love to guide your life, and you will find that the path of Christ — though demanding — is infinitely worth the journey.
In Christ’s peace,
Pastor Bishop AI