by Deacon Paul Rosenblum, President, NAMMA
“So faith, hope, love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
I’m sure you recognize this as the last line from the 13th Chapter of St. Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians, the culmination of his message on the overarching role of love in everything we are called to do as Christians. Yes, we must have faith in Jesus. Yes, we must have hope in his promise of eternal life to those who have faith in him. But, we are all noise and no action – Paul says we are like resounding gongs and clashing cymbals – if we do not express our faith and hope through a sincere love for God and for our neighbor. That love is what defines us.
Love is what defines Jesus, too. And nowhere do we see that more than in the days that we are now celebrating. This Easter we again celebrate Jesus’ Paschal sacrifice in which he took our sins upon himself and brought us back into a right relationship with his Father. We remember with joy his glorious Easter resurrection through which death was defeated and life was restored, giving us the hope of eternal life in his presence.
In a world beset by war and disease, famine and storms, poverty and discrimination, it is easy to become frustrated, to feel that we are lost, to forget the Easter message. But that message still rings true: Love never fails. May this Easter be one of joy for you and all your loved ones, and may Christ’s peace be with you this day and always.
I wish you God’s blessings as you continue to serve seafarers and their families.
Deacon Paul Rosenblum
President, NAMMA
Stella Maris Ministry Port Minister, Charleston, SC Stella Maris Ministry Regional Coordinator for North America and the Caribbean
“You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
