If we fall in love...

Fifth Sunday of Easter
May 5-6, 2007
Reading 1Acts 14:21-27
Responsorial PsalmPs 145:8-9, 10-11, 12-13
Reading IIRev 21:1-5a
GospelJn 13:31-33a, 34-35

Giving of self – Love is by nature generous.
Christ = His Cross is the measure of our love.

Common notion of love
Love according to the Australian Oxford Dictionary is “an intense feeling of deep affection or fondness.” It says to fall in love is “to suddenly and intensely begin to love something (or a person).” When a person loves he or she “begins to live or experience great joy.”

This common definition of love as feeling or emotion is what we often hear from the contemporary media, showbiz magazines, from Hollywood movies or from popular songs we hear from the radio. We always describe love as “mushy loving-feeling,” an emotion that brings enjoyment and romance. Sometimes we hear/blurt out statements like, “I don’t love her anymore” or “I don’t love him anymore.” Actually what we mean is “I don’t feel the joy and pleasure of loving anymore.”

Love is giving
To define love this way downgrades or rather abuses its real meaning. Because love in its true essence is more than an emotion, love is more than infatuation or attraction, its more than a “romantically-good-feeling.”

Love as contrary to feeling is a firm decision. For love is by nature generous. Love is decision to give oneself self freely. Love is equated to giving of self. Love in its essence is readiness to give oneself for the good of another person. It is a free act of the will to offer oneself, to give one self generously, even if the process of self-giving is painful. (We all know the story of “The Giving Tree.”)

How love is shown?
How do we express our love to others? We show our love to other people in different levels. First, by intention, it means we can love people in our minds and nobody knows about that love except God and the one who loves. Secondly, we show our love by verbal expressions. So from the mind, the expression of love goes to our lips saying “I love you.” To hear that we are loved, that we are appreciated is very encouraging. Those three words bring us joy and consolation. But the third expression of love is greater than the two. The highest level of showing our love by action. Certainly love that is shown in action is greater, it’s deeper, than love by intention, it’s more meaningful that what comes from the lips. Love by action proves the true meaning of love.

Love deeply
If love is far more than a feeling, but a firm decision to give oneself, thus love can be commanded. In our Gospel today, we hear a clear commandment from our Lord how to love and how love is shown.

Jesus entrusted to His disciples the new commandment of love. I give you a new commandment: love one another as I have loved you, so you should love one another. It’s a crystal clear commandment: to love as Jesus Christ loved us.

To love like Jesus means we must love deeply. The Lord is telling us to go deeper than the heart, to go deeper than the feelings. We are called to love not is a superficial way, but to love as he has loved each and one of us, regardless of who we are.

How did Jesus show His love for us?
Jesus showed his love for us in a simple way, a human and tangible way, by becoming human like us. So that his love is seen concretely, Jesus shares everything with us, even his life making us all God’s children.

Second the love of Jesus is not merely shown words but his love is always in action. The love of Jesus is beyond the law; Christ’s love is always active, self-giving love, self-sacrificing. His love is never self-seeking or asking any love in return…a love that constantly gives until it hurts. It is this kind of love which makes “all things new.” It is only in this loving deeply like Jesus’ that we can also live fully.

Thirdly, the Cross of Christ is the measure of our love. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends. This is what is “new” about the command: it is Jesus himself, in his life, service and self-giving unto death, who models what it means to love one another.

To imitate the love of Jesus is not easy because such kind of love requires a daily laying down of one’s wishes, needs, and desires for the sake of the other. It’s never easy but it is possible…

Conclusion
In the twilight of our life there is only one thing that would be asked of us, “how much did you love?” It is a question that will perhaps, never be fully answered in life, because it comes at the Day of Judgment. But each day of our life should prefigure that final moment. To love like Jesus is to make a firm decision in life to self-giving for the sake of others. It is the kindness we extend to everyone, the truthfulness of our words, the respect that everyone deserves, the humility of our achievements, the forgiveness of those who offend us. To love like Jesus is our willingness to give up one’s life for a friend.

May we able to follow the commandment of Jesus to love as he loved us. May the love of Jesus help us to be fully prepared at the twilight of our life. Indeed, it may be our only means to salvation. Amen.

"If we fall in love anywhere with you would be a better place.."

Readings: "Love Like Jesus" by Bishop Socrates Villegas