Where is the Love?

By this all men will know
that you are My disciples, 
if you have love for one another.

John 13:35

 

One commandment.  God's greatest commandment.  Love one another.  So simple. 

The gospel teaches us to love everyone. Everyone includes those whose opinions differ from ours.  It includes the saints and the sinners equally. We are to love those who wish us harm just as much as those who love us in return. 

Jesus shows us what true love is by example throughout the bible. Over and over again He reveals his most perfect love...agape love...selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional.

I have thought about this a lot over the past few days as I have watched the social media explode over the topic of marriage equality for everyone. Facebook has become a hotbed of bickering as people speak out strongly for their beliefs.   

Everyone certainly has a right to defend their beliefs and to define for themselves what is right and what is wrong, but all I can seem to focus on is the harsh words, from both sides, within the messages that condemn and accuse. 

It is confusing to see such hatred and venom spewed all in the name of love.  Even more confusing are the words that are filled with bitterness and loathing that are being uttered in Jesus's name.

It is extremely disconcerting that during this most holy week of the year our focus has been diverted from the cross and the joy of the resurrection that unites us all.

I struggle to love as Jesus loved and I am as guilty as everyone else of the sin of hatred. However, I need only to look towards the cross as a reminder that Jesus died for my sins in a perfect offering of selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love.   

In my struggle I also need to look no further than my son.  I believe with all my heart that God sent us this angel for a very specific purpose.  Scotty has been assigned a very special mission here on earth. 

He is here to teach us all how to love.  He is here to show us how to love purely and to love simply...no conditions attached. This boy of ours who has been given a small handful of words expresses his love better than those of us who can read and write and speak...

...And he doesn't even have to try.

In his silence Scotty's message is clear.

"I love you"

And it is perfect.

 And walk in love,

as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us,

a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:2

Pope Francis invited us all to follow in the footsteps of Jesus

and bring the light of his love to everyone you meet.
Let us join him and show that we are all disciples of Christ.

May you all have a
Blessed Easter

Last year before Easter I focused my blog post on Simon of Cyrene who carried the cross for Jesus on the road to Calvary.  I identify greatly with Simon who was on his way to do something else when he was called upon to bear the burden of the cross for Jesus.
It is by far my favorite post and one I actually wrote several years ago before I joined the blogosphere.

If you would like to reread it CLICK HERE