Selfless Love

 

April 9, 2024

Hi!  How is each and every one?  Yesterday we celebrated the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary giving way to Holy Week, the 25^th being Holy Monday this year.  “Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum”, be it done to me according to your word.  What a beautiful prayer to make your own, my own, don’t you think so?  We want to be always attuned to the will of God for you and for me personally. Whatever it be that you will for me, Lord, may it be done to me according to your will.  Because ever since I came into this world, I have not known how to ask for anything.  But everything happens to me without my own asking for it and I am happy.  It is you Lord through my parents, siblings, my family that things happen.  It is you, Lord, unless we choose otherwise because You have risked giving us our freedom to choose your will or our will. May I always choose your will for myself because in doing so I am safe and secure.  “May your most just and most lovable will be done, be fulfilled, be praised and exalted above all things forever. Amen.

Let us proclaim the goodness of God and put Him on top of all our activities every day wherever we find ourselves in the streets, at home, in the office, in church, in the market, mall, supermarket, in the hospital, anywhere and everywhere.  Because God is omnipresent.  He is always present in you, in me, in all places.

Following is the continuation of the symphony of love of St. Paul from the Holy Father’s Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, Chapter 4, nos. 89-119.

Love is generous

101. We have repeatedly said that to love another we must first love ourselves. Paul’s hymn to love, however, states that love “does not seek its own interest”, nor “seek what is its own”. This same idea is expressed in another text: “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Phil 2:4). The Bible makes it clear that generously serving others is far more noble than loving ourselves. Loving ourselves is only important as a psychological prerequisite for being able to love others: “If a man is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous? No one is meaner than the man who is grudging to himself” (Sir 14:5-6).

102. Saint Thomas Aquinas explains that “it is more proper to charity to desire to love than  to desire to be loved” (Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II-II, q. 27, art. 1, ad 2) indeed, “mothers, who are those who love the most, seek to love more than to be loved” (Ibid., q. 27, art. 1).  Consequently, love can transcend and overflow the demands of justice, “expecting nothing in return” (Lk 6:35), and the greatest of loves can lead to “laying down one’s life” for another (cf. Jn 15:13). Can such generosity, which enables us to give freely and fully, really be possible? Yes, because it is demanded by the Gospel: “You received without pay, give without pay” (Mt 10:8).

Love is not irritable or resentful

103. If the first word of Paul’s hymn spoke of the need for a patience that does not immediately react harshly to the weaknesses and faults of others, the word he uses next – paroxýnetai – has to do more with an interior indignation provoked by something from without. It refers to a violent reaction within, a hidden irritation that sets us on edge where others are concerned, as if they were troublesome or threatening and thus to be avoided. To nurture such interior hostility helps no one. It only causes hurt and alienation. Indignation is only healthy when it makes us react to a grave injustice; when it permeates our attitude towards others it is harmful.

104. The Gospel tells us to look to the log in our own eye (cf. Mt 7:5). Christians cannot ignore the persistent admonition of God’s word not to nurture anger: “Do not be overcome by evil” (Rm 12:21). “Let us not grow weary in doing good” (Gal 6:9). It is one thing to sense a sudden surge of hostility and another to give into it, letting it take root in our hearts: “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26). My advice is never to let the day end without making peace in the family. “And how am I going to make peace? By getting down on my knees? No! Just by a small gesture, a little something, and harmony within your family will be restored. Just a little caress, no words are necessary. But do not let the day end without making peace in your family” [Catechesis (13 May 2015): L’Osservatore Romano, 14 May 2015, p. 8]. Our first reaction when we are annoyed should be one of heartfelt blessing, asking God to bless, free and heal that person. “On the contrary bless, for to this you have been called, that you may obtain a blessing” (1 Pet 3:9). If we must fight evil, so be it; but we must always say “no” to violence in the home.

While it is true that to control our anger and keep silent for a moment or two is easier said than done, it is also very doable after practicing for some time. Practice makes perfect especially in choosing to do good for humble selfless love. For some persons what makes them manage their emotions is the effort to see Jesus in the situation, in the person and his actuation, in the thing that triggers his anger, annoyance or irritation. It is truly worthwhile to pause a while and look for Jesus and talk to him in the situation, in the person and his actuation.  Every time such a situation occurs, apply the same effort to pause and look for Jesus, talk to him accordingly.  This practice will be blessed with equivalent grace that will perfect the person’s natural effort against his anger, irritation or annoyance.

Let us continue praying for one another and accompany each other in situations you and I go through every day.

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