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“Christian life cannot be lived superficially”: Angolan Bishop Calls for Love in “actions, attitudes, decisions”

Jimmy Akin

By Jimmy Akin

Luanda, 15 December, 2024 / 8:39 pm (ACI Africa).

Bishop António Francisco Jaca of Angola’s Catholic Diocese of Benguela has cautioned Christians against superficiality in their faith practice. 

Speaking during his pastoral visit to the Divine Child Jesus Caponte Parish of his Episcopal See, Bishop Jaca advocated for Christian faith practice with love pervading all spheres of life. 

“We cannot claim to be Christians and live just any way. We need to live according to the teachings of the Church, which guide us to love God and our brothers and to keep God’s commandments,” the Angolan Catholic Bishop said during the December 14 pastoral visit.

The Angolan member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) emphasized the place of steadfastness, commitment and detachment in Christian living, and referring to Jesus, added, “Whoever loves their father or mother more than Christ cannot be His disciple.” 

“Christian life cannot be lived superficially or carelessly. Our commitment to Christ must be unwavering. When we accept Christ’s call, we must assume the responsibility of following His teachings and living according to His will,” Bishop Jaca said.

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“Love must be the foundation of Christian life,” he went on to say, adding, “As Christians, we are called not just to speak of love but to express it through our actions, attitudes, and decisions.” 

The Local Ordinary of Benguela underscored the need for Christians to foster good relationships both with one another and with God. He said, “True disciples of Christ are those who love God and their neighbor. Jesus’ words are clear: ‘Whoever loves their father or siblings more than Me cannot be My disciple.’”

Bishop Jaca urged Christians to reflect on the meaning of loving God above all else, warning against the temptation to put selfish desires or material things at the center of their lives. 

“Love for God must occupy the first place. This means living for His glory and aligning our choices with His teachings, not with the values of the world,” he said.

The Catholic Church leader called for practical demonstrations of love, especially toward the most vulnerable, saying, “To love God is to obey His commandments and to live according to His will. To love our neighbor is to show in practice what we believe. Christian love is not just a feeling but a daily decision to follow the Lord’s path.”

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Bishop Jaca also urged Christians to move beyond their comfort zones and practice unconditional love. 

“The Lord asks us to love others as He loved us. We cannot choose whom to love or limit our love to those who love us,” he said and continued, “Christian love leads us to forgive, to love even our enemies, and to do good without expecting anything in return.”

Bishop Jaca emphasized that “love for God and neighbor must be constant in our lives. It is through this love that we bear witness to our faith and become true disciples of Christ.”

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