One of the most damaging attitudes of our time is the way we relate to each other: today's people are often not content to be like others, but want and demand to be better, to be above others, and when we interact it's like entering a contest to see who can rise the highest, even if it means stepping on others. How negative this is, harming not only our relationships but also ourselves, for a person who feels superior to others cannot truly love. A sense of superiority is the enemy of both the soul and love, because those who wish to dominate others to feel good lose their dignity as human beings.
In today's first reading, we heard: 'When Peter entered Cornelius' house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up, saying, "Stand up; I am only a man myself."' What a lesson for us from Peter! He teaches us one of the most important and basic messages conveyed by the Word of God, namely that we are all children of our one Father in heaven, and therefore we are all siblings, no one better than anyone else and none worse; we are different indeed, and each of us has our capabilities, thus life is beautiful, for we are a rainbow of colours. How much more beautiful life would be if we accepted and believed this truth, how beautiful life would be if we all loved each other as siblings!
The same Jewish people, the chosen people of God, had a problem understanding what this means. God did not choose them because they were to feel above other peoples, or because they are more special than others, but chose them to serve. Whenever God chooses someone, it is not because they are better or more special than others, but He chooses them so that He can work through them to show His love. Indeed, in today's first reading, the early Church understood that God wants to save everyone, not just the Jews. God had indeed chosen them so that through them His salvation would reach all people. Peter shows us that even those in positions of authority should receive it from God as a ministry of service, not because they are more special than anyone else.
How beautiful is the invitation that Saint John gives us in today's second reading: 'Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.' This is the secret to true joy, or rather to peace of heart, this is the greatest challenge each person faces in life, not just to love but to love more and more. Those who think they love enough have understood nothing because love is a journey that leads us to God Himself, a journey that never ends.
In today's Gospel, Jesus gives us step by step the path that leads to understanding and growing in this: 'As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Remain in my love. The most important thing the Lord is telling us is to believe and have a personal experience of how much God loves us: those who do not feel loved cannot love, and no one can love us as much as God. Therefore, parents who truly love their children seek to introduce them to God who is Love, because they know, no matter how much they love their children, their love remains human and thus limited, so they seek to introduce them to that love which never ends.
Jesus continues to tell us: 'If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in His love.' Love also has its rules: those who think they love but want to do what they want and what suits them are making a big mistake because those who love need to put love before their selfish interests, they need to train in the ability to say 'no' to themselves when their interests go against the love of God and others. This is the secret of true love revealed to us by Jesus; 'I have told you this so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.'
Jesus also gives us the measure to know if we truly love or are just pretending to love because we are doing it according to the standards of the world: 'This is my commandment: that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends.' So, those who truly love aim to love as the Lord loved us. This is the great mystery of life, that in life we must seek to give of ourselves like Him; this does not necessarily mean we must die for others, but it means that we must be capable of putting the needs of others before our own. The person who does not choose this as their sole ideal ends up losing the sense of life, even if they seem to enjoy much in this world. We must ask ourselves: Do I truly believe that God loves me? How much do I feel that others are my siblings, and that I am neither better nor worse than them? How much am I seeking to continue growing in love because I believe that this is a journey that never ends?
We pray, Lord, open our hearts to Your love, and help us never to doubt that You love us. Help us also to understand that loving each other is the most beautiful thing in life, so that even in a world where love seems scarce, we may be the ones to bring Your love to our siblings. Amen.
Comentarios