“Responding to the invitation to ‘live in love’ by having a proper understanding of the word ‘love!'”

(Based on 1 Kgs 21:17-29 and Mt 5:43-48 – Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 2)

A catechism teacher – an English trainer by profession – was explaining the importance of the word ‘love’ to her Class 7 students.

She said: “What is love?

>> Love is silence – when your words would hurt.
>> Love is patience – when people are rude
>> Love is deafness – when a scandalous rumour makes rounds
>> Love is thoughtfulness – when you see others in pain
>> Love is promptness – when you see someone in need
>> Love is courage – when unexpected crisis hits the boat of your lives”

And she added, “And finally…
… Love is The Man – Whom you see hanging on the Cross, shedding the last drop of His blood for us!”


Love, which takes many forms, finds its ultimate expression in “The Man” – Jesus – the Saviour of the world…
… Who invites each one of us to “live in love” by having a proper understanding of the word “love!”


Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, continues to pull down barriers of “comfort and coziness” by challenging His disciples to rise above the normal standards of the world.

Today He speaks on the aspect of “Love”.


Love is the fundamental and innate vocation of every human person.

Dictionaries describe love as being ‘a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person’ or a ‘feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection’.


Generally speaking, love is considered only to be a human ’emotion or feeling’.
>> It is something that is usually understood as being “felt” or “sensed” or “experienced”.


Jesus surely did consider “love” as an emotion and a feeling.

Therefore…
… He loved the company of people
… He cherished affection of those who followed Him
… He treasured relationships and fostered friendships with all


But beyond these “external” dimensions of Love… Our Blessed Lord taught and showed a higher aspect of love

Love, not just being a “feeling” but ” love as a “decision”.
Love, not just being a “sensation” but love as a “commitment”


Therefore Jesus says:
“You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy!” (Mt 5:43)
“For if you love only those who love you, what recompense will you have?” (Mt 5: 46)


These ‘statements on love’ must have stunned the original audience.

In the 1st-century Jewish Palestine, “enemies” and “persecutors” primarily referred to the oppressive Romans.

Jesus challenges His followers, to love and pray for those who were oppressing them…
… those occupying their land
… those imposing heavy taxes
… and those treating them unjustly.


This radical love – mirroring the Heavenly Father’s inclusive care…
… would become an identity for them to be called as ‘true children of the Heavenly Father!’


Love, when understood only as a “feeling” or an “emotion” can get reduced to being just an “object” or a “thing”
>> Just as one exchanges goods with each other…
… love is also exchanged with one another
>> Just as one shares one’s belongings and possessions with one another…
… love is also shared with one another
>> Just as one gives and takes things from each other…
… love is also given and taken from each other

But the Lord presents a higher understanding of love and demands a much supreme expression of love from His followers: “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt 5: 48)


Love to be a “virtue” has to surpass the ordinary realms of being “an emotion” and “feeling”…
… and transcend to being a “radical decision” and a “faithful commitment!”


When someone hurts us, we don’t “feel” like loving…
>> But Jesus says, “Love that person”, because love is a “daring decision”

When someone continues to be lukewarm, we don’t have any “emotions” of love…
>> But Jesus says, “Love that person,” because love is an “absolute allegiance”

When someone continues to cause pain, we don’t “experience” any love…
>> But Jesus says, “Love that person” because love is a “challenging commitment”


Now this teaching certainly irks our “normal” understanding.
>> How can I possibly love someone, who has hurt and killed me, mentally?
>> How can I be expected to show love to someone who still hurts me, even intentionally?
>> How can I be told to love people, who have no regard for me at all and treat me as an object?


It seems to be an impossibility.
It seems to be absurd.

But we are called to look to the Crucified Lord…
… in Whom we have the perfect example of ‘Love being lived in actuality!’

Jesus on the Cross shows that love is to be
… a “daring decision”
… an “absolute allegiance”
… and a “challenging commitment!”


>> One may not be able to “show” love…
… but can we at least pray, and seek for God’s blessings on the person?
>> One may not be able to “talk” freely to the one who has hurt…
… but can we try to wish good, and speak good about the person?
>> One may not be able to “resist” from having bad feelings when encountering one’s enemy…
… but can we at least offer the person to the mercy of God?


This teaching certainly seems to be a big “burden” and a significant “stress”

But this is where, we need to make a journey…
… of considering people not as a “burden” but as a brother!
… of considering people not as a “stress” but as a sister!


We are assured by the Lord that when we “observe [His commandments] diligently” with all our heart and with all our soul….
… we will be “set high above all nations that He has made, in praise and in fame and in honor; and… to be a people holy to the Lord!” (Cf. Deut 26:16,19)


Let us realize that the Lord has walked through this journey.

He is still with us – to accompany us.
>> This journey may be hard
>> This journey may be hurting
>> This journey may be painful

But lets follow the Loving Law of the Lord…
…being impelled by the encouraging words of the Psalmist: “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!” (Ps 119:1b)


We are given the powerful reminder that “Love is The Man – Whom you see hanging on the Cross, shedding the last drop of His blood for us!”…
… as we are invited to “live in love” by having a proper understanding of the word “love!”


God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – GRACE AND JUSTIFICATION
>> The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us…
… that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ” and through Baptism. (CCC # 1987)
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