Wow, Now That’s Amore!
theophilus May 28th, 2009
Sometimes when St. John starts talking about “love” in his gospel, my eyes glaze over and I don’t even try to figure out what he means. Yea, I know it’s something important and profound, but I tend to take all of this talk about divine love with the same attitude that I watch a Nicholas Sparks’ chick-flick with my wife – with unenthusiastic indifference.
So, it was to my surprise that this morning I really decided to dive into the gospel reading for today’s Mass (from John 17) and found some absolutely incredible passages from Jesus’ prayer to God as to what he wanted and desired -
“that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you”
“that they may also be in us”
“that the world may believe that you sent me”
“I have given them the glory you gave me”
“that they may be brought to perfection as one”
“that the world may know that you sent me”
“that you loved them even as you loved me”
“they are your gift to me”
“I wish that where I am they also may be with me”
“that they may see my glory that you gave me”
“I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”
All of these things are what Christ wants for us – for you, for me. He loves us so much, he wants us to have unity with him and our God; he wants us to have faith; he wants us to have eternal, divine love; he wants us to JOIN him in eternity; he wants us to see his divine glory. The most astounding passage of all is where he acknowledges to God that WE are God’s gift to him – think about it, he considers you and me to be a divine gift to HIM.
How can we walk away from such love? How can we not soak in this love each and every day? How can we not seek to do our best to return this love in every thing we do and every word we say? How can we continue to commit the same sin over and over again, knowing we are weak but refusing his loving mercy and forgiveness which is there for our asking?
Christ gave us himself on the Cross; he gave us himself through the Holy Spirit; he gives of himself in the Blessed Sacrament. He shows his love in the sacraments and the events of our daily lives. He loves us. He means those things in his prayer to God; they aren’t just empty words mouthed to hear himself talk. They are pure, unadulterated, incredible love for all of his flock.
His love has been accepted and returned by Mary and the saints. We should emulate them on a daily basis by offering our love to him. What will you do today to show your love for him? Think about it as you work, study, think, pray, play, interact with others; think about it as you contemplate giving into the temptation in front of you, or skipping out on a chance to spend some time with him.
Christ loves you; do you love him? Do you show you love him? Do you experience joy and peace from his love? Do you show his love to others?
Soak in this amore; it won’t take long until you are doing things for Christ; living your life for Christ; doing so because you love him; showing his love to everyone around you.
Remember, Christ considers you to be a gift from God to him; so make sure you are proved worthy to be such an esteemed and divine gift.
