Love and do What You Will

 

April 16, 2024

          

Hi! How is each and every one? How do I begin this post?  I am recalling an

excerpt in a novel on St. Thomas Aquinas where his sister, Theodora asked him the question, “How does one become a saint?” “Will it”, St. Thomas answered “Will it and that is all?” Theodora reiterated.  “That is all we can do.  God does the rest.  Love God. But remember: love is of the will.  To love is to will. “Amare est velle” was the answer of St. Thomas.

 

“To love is to will.”  Therefore if we will it, we can give to the world what it needs and what the world needs now more than ever is love – true love – the source of which is God, who is Love, Himself.

 

St. Josemaria:  “Do everything for love.  In that way there will be no little things; everything will be big.  Perseverance in the little things for love is heroism.” “A little act done for love is worth so much.”

Love never ever needs to say I’m sorry. How do you understand this statement?  Love never ever needs to say I’m sorry. Love always wills the good, and the will of the beloved. Doing so always, what then is there a need for one to say sorry? That is something for each one of us to reflect on in our given situation.

 

Now, let us consider the continuation of the post on St. Paul’s symphony of love through the Holy Father’s Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, Chapter 4, nos. 89-119.

 

Love forgives 

 

105. Once we allow ill will to take root in our hearts, it leads to deep resentment. The phrase ou logízetai to kakón means that love “takes no account of evil”; “it is not resentful”. The opposite of resentment is forgiveness, which is rooted in a positive attitude that seeks to understand other people’s weaknesses and to excuse them. As Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Lk 23:34). Yet we keep looking for more and more faults, imagining greater evils, presuming all kinds of bad intentions, and so resentment grows and deepens. Thus, every mistake or lapse on the part of a spouse can harm the bond of love and the stability of the family. Something is wrong when we see every problem as equally serious; in this way, we risk being unduly harsh with the failings of others. The just desire to see our rights respected turns into a thirst for vengeance rather than a reasoned defence of our dignity.

 

 

106. When we have been offended or let down, forgiveness is possible and desirable, but no one can say that it is easy. The truth is that “family communion can only be preserved and perfected through a great spirit of sacrifice. It requires, in fact, a ready and generous openness of each and all to understanding, to forbearance, to pardon, to reconciliation. There is no family that does not know how selfishness, discord, tension and conflict violently attack and at times mortally wound its own communion: hence there arise the many and varied forms of division in family life” (John Paul II, Apostolic Exhortation Familiaris Consortio (22 November 1981), 21: AAS 74 (1982), 106).

 

107. Today we recognize that being able to forgive others implies the liberating experience of understanding and forgiving ourselves. Often our mistakes, or criticism we have received from loved ones, can lead to a loss of self-esteem. We become distant from others, avoiding affection and fearful in our interpersonal relationships. Blaming others becomes falsely reassuring. We need to learn to pray over our past history, to accept ourselves, to learn how to live with our limitations, and even to forgive ourselves, in order to have this same attitude towards others.

108. All this assumes that we ourselves have had the experience of being forgiven by God, justified by his grace and not by our own merits. We have known a love that is prior to any of our own efforts, a love that constantly opens doors, promotes and encourages. If we accept that God’s love is unconditional, that the Father’s love cannot be bought or sold, then we will become capable of showing boundless love and forgiving others even if they have wronged us. Otherwise, our family life will no longer be a place of understanding, support and encouragement, but rather one of constant tension and mutual criticism.

Love rejoices with others

 

109. The expression chaírei epì te adikía has to do with a negativity lurking deep within a person’s heart. It is the toxic attitude of those who rejoice at seeing an injustice done to others. The following phrase expresses its opposite: sygchaírei te aletheía: “it rejoices in the right”. In other words, we rejoice at the good of others when we see their dignity and value their abilities and good works. This is impossible for those who must always be comparing and competing, even with their spouse, so that they secretly rejoice in their failures.

 

110. When a loving person can do good for others, or sees that others are happy, they themselves live happily and in this way give glory to God, for “God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7). Our Lord especially appreciates those who find joy in the happiness of others. If we fail to learn how to rejoice in the well-being of others, and focus primarily on our own needs, we condemn ourselves to a joyless existence, for, as Jesus said, “it is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). The family must always be a place where, when something good happens to one of its members, they know that others will be there to celebrate it with them.

Let us cultivate and nurture the virtue of Love – Love for God and for the others.  This is the only thing that truly gives happiness and peace to a person because you and I are made to love and for love.  You and I live to love and this is what gives meaning to our life on earth.  Be a person in love and a person who emits the aura of love, joy, peace and light.  Let us enjoy doing so, that is, enjoy what you and I are doing for love, to love, in love.  You and I can do this 100% by maintaining a good loving relationship with LOVE Himself, Who is God.  God is LOVE.

See you in the next post, “May tomorrow be a perfect day; may you find love and laughter along the way; may God keep you in his tender care; ‘til He brings us together again.”

Affectionately,                    

Guadalupinky