聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 This reflection started with one line, and I fear if I say any more I speak too much. Yet the theme of love has occupied saint and sinner since time began.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淟ove is the currency of heaven. Lay up treasures in heaven,鈥� said an unknown speaker.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Socrates said, 鈥淥ne word frees us of all the weight and pain in life. That word is Love.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Father Brendan McGuire excitedly puts it this way:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲hereas we believe wholeheartedly that no matter what I do鈥� God knows me by name.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎nd not only that but God loves me no matter what. No matter how far I stray or no matter how wounded or broken I become God loves me. That is to have great faith. If you have just the tiniest amount of that faith, it is enough. When the glass is full, it is full; no matter how much more you pour in, it is still full. That is what the Lord is saying to us.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Filled with God鈥檚 love, we can act in faith. What a transformation we must face when we realize God loves us!
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In John 21:15, Jesus asks Simon Peter three times 鈥淒o you love me?鈥� Peter answers three times, 鈥淵es Lord, you know I love you.鈥� And Jesus tells him: 鈥淔eed my lambs; take care of my sheep; and feed my sheep鈥ollow me.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There is much in Peter鈥檚 life that mirrors our lives. How often have we denied Jesus and turned to the easier path? And how often have we been accepted back?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Kneeling at the crypt of St. Peter, Pope Francis repeated the three professions of faith Peter made: "Lord, you are the Christ, the son of the living God," "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life," and "Lord, you know everything; you know I love you."
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Imagine that Jesus is calling to you today:
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淒o you love me?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 You say, 鈥淵es, Lord, you know that I love you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And Jesus says to you: 鈥淭hen love your wife, your children, your family鈥︹��
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Jesus asks a second time: 鈥淒o you love me?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 You answer, 鈥淵es, Lord, you know that I love you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And Jesus says to you: 鈥淭hen love my church.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A third time Jesus asks you 鈥淒o you love me?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 You answer: 鈥淟ord, you know all things; you know that I love you.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And Jesus says: 鈥淭hen follow me. Serve me in those who are poor, desperate, marginalized, in the hospital鈥︹�� (Thanks to Archbishop Don Bolen of Regina for these thoughts on John鈥檚 Gospel.)
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Now is the opportunity of our lifetimes to touch God and our fellow man. Our Father is waiting with joy and with open arms. Our brothers and sisters ache for our love. This is our time to act.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Heaven starts now. We are in eternity now. This body and soul will be with us when we share God鈥檚 heaven. This is our chance to get it right.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With God鈥檚 love we can be beautiful!
