esterday was the American holiday of Valentine’s day where couples celebrate their love to each other. This is not a bad thing. In fact, the Song of Solomon says, “I belong to my lover, and his desire is for me. Come, my lover, let us go to the countryside, let us spend the night in the villages. Let us go early to the vineyards to see if the vines have budded, if their blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates are in bloom there I will give you my love” (Song of Solomon 7:10-12).

However, this is definitely not the only type of love. As Christians, our religion is founded on love: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). God’s love for us is what gave us redemption and salvation! Not only that, but God went even further to call us his sons through his love: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” (1 John 3:1).

Not only is our religion founded on love, but we must learn how to love: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8). The reason we love God is very simple. We are weak and inferior beings, we cannot love, unless someone loves us first. This is what actually happened: “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). And even though we consistently sin against Him and continue to separate ourselves from Him, He still loves us: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). So love is a virtue every Christian should have. In fact, St. Paul says, “And now abide in faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13).

So how do we know what love is? St. Paul says, “Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). St. John talks about the greatest love there is: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13). That is truly what Christ did for us, he laid down his life for us, his “friends.” As a result, it is impossible NOT to love Him. That’s all he asks of us. When asked what we needed to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus replied, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind’ and (love) ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” (paraphrasing of Luke 10:25-27).

Therefore as Christians, everyday should be a celebration of love, because “God is love” and everything we do should be done in God: “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 11:23). It is important to learn to love and to live in love. So love should not only be celebrated on this one day of the year, love should be celebrated everyday. It is the foundation of our religion.