Love Endures All Things

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III discusses the trait of breadth of heart and love that endures all things, and states that a wide heart is capable of forgiveness and endurance while a narrow heart is distressed by the smallest matters.

Main idea
The lecture affirms that true love is manifested in enduring people, injustice, weakness, and sins, and that God Himself has a broad heart that endures many people and their shortcomings so as to call them to repentance.

Biblical and historical examples
The speaker cites examples such as Christ enduring the disciples’ doubts and their flight, God enduring humanity’s complaints, and the endurance of prophets and saints (like Peter, Thomas, Mary Magdalene, Elijah, David, and Joseph the Beloved) through various trials and persecutions.

The nature of Christian endurance
Christian endurance is not continual tolerance of sin, but bearing with love, humility, and wisdom: a wide heart that loves and forgives, a humble heart that endures, and a wise heart that discerns times and limits.

Practical effects of a wide heart
A wide heart is not hurt by harsh words, nor disturbed by waiting or trials; it knows how to justify, forgive, and move on, giving space for the other to change. This makes a person steadfast in service, prayer, and work.

A call to spiritual formation
The lecture calls the believer to cultivate a generous chest through humility, love, and wisdom, to practice waiting and patience, not to tense over every word or situation, and to turn the heart into an ocean that holds everything rather than a small cup that is quickly troubled.

Spiritual summary
Believers are to ask God for a wide heart that accepts people, endures trials, and loves without bounds, because God’s broad heart is the model, and the love that endures all is a sign of the divine image in man.

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