Our readings today focus on love. They indicate
that love is more than a feeling. It is an act of will
or choice. Saint Thomas Aquinas said it is to will
the good of another. The actions of love are de-
scribed in Scripture. Jesus is our model of love
and he tells us he is here to teach the good
news, to heal the broken hearted, and to free
those who are oppressed.
Saint Paul talks about love as bearing all things,
believing all things, hoping all things. He says it is
wanting only good for others. He describes it as
patience, kindness, truth. He says it is not insist-
ing on our own will when it would hurt another.
Nowhere does the Bible say this love is easy.
After all Jesus went to the cross out of love for us
and his Father. But we are assured that this love
is the only way to true joy and peace. Love un-
derstands that people are more valuable than
money or things or power or social recognition.
These things may have a place in life but they
are not the most important and must take a back
seat to valuing and acting out our love for others.
We all long for the kind of love proclaimed in the
Bible and God longs to give it to us. Our limita-
tions and sins make it hard for us to recognize or
receive it. The sacraments of the church cleanse
us and open our hearts. The more open we are
to faith, hope, and love the better we can give
them to others which is God’s commandment to
us.
Peace.
Mary