True religiosity

His Holiness Pope Shenouda reminds that the coming of the Lord Christ to the world carried the message of love as the first virtue we should learn and deepen on Christmas.
Love for Christ is a practical love shown in healing the sick, proclaiming the kingdom, and compassion toward all without distinction.
He affirms that the first commandment is to love God and the second to love the neighbor, and that with these two commandments the law and the prophets are summarized.
Love rejects hatred and unites the heart with God, because God loved us before our existence and created us as a thought in His mind and delight in His heart.
Nature and creation teach us giving without return: the tree gives its fruit and the bee makes honey to offer it to others.
Love generates many virtues: trust, peace, sacrifice, and denial of self; it is a bond that links people to God and to one another.
We pray that love and peace prevail in Egypt and the world, we pray for the end of wars, for help to those suffering from famine, and for the unity of peoples.
On the occasion of the feast the Copts open their hearts to the Muslims; love for the homeland calls for solidarity and prayer for the president and those serving the country.

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