LOVE in ‘THE APOSTLES CREED”
The Apostles Creed refers back to a time when the church was more interested in stating clearly and explicitly its beliefs, and not elaborate devotional embelishments or fine expressions of piety, humility and total surrender to the love of God.
At one point I stopped to consider whether it is missing a sense of “God is Love” and “God loves me,” that our relationship with God is a relationship of love.
Then it occurred to me that the prayer’s litany of beliefs is truly a series of statements and indications, in the plainest language possible, of how much God loves us.
I BELIEVE IN GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY
He loves us as a father dearly loves his children.
CREATOR HEAVEN AND EARTH
Almighty God so overflowed with love that He brought into being all goodness, truth and beauty, and made us able to know and love Him, and what he created.
AND IN JESUS CHRIST, HIS ONLY SON, OUR LORD
God so loved the world that he gave us his only Son.
WHO WAS CONCEIVED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT
Brought into the world by Love.
BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY
His perfect mother loved Him, and loves us for His sake.
SUFFERED UNDER PONTIUS PILATE, WAS CRUCIFIED, DIED, AND WAS BURIED
He so loved us that he underwent unimaginable agony so that we might be restored to friendship with the Father.
HE DESCENDED INTO HELL
He brought the same friendship to the dead.
ON THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN
He proved that He is Our Lord and Savior.
HE ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN, AND IS SEATED AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD, THE FATHER ALMIGHTY, FROM WHENCE HE SHALL COME TO JUDGE THE LIVING AND THE DEAD
Holy, Holy, Holy Love.
WE BELIEVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT
God’s Love is the third Holy Person.
THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH
Jesus has given us His Love forever.
THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS
We are all invited to be united in the love of God.
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS
God’s never excludes us from his Love.
THE RESURRECTION OF THE BODY, AND LIFE EVERLASTING.
God in his Love offers us eternal happiness with Him.
AMEN.
