WE need to see to it that our life is characterized by
fervor and passion. We have to be driven, because this is a clear sign
of genuine love. When there is lethargy or lukewarmness, you can be
sure love is fading or has faded out.
This fervor and zeal was expressed by Christ himself who
said: “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be
already kindled?” (Lk 12,49) And he went all the way to offer his life
on the cross. That was how passionate he was in carrying out his
mission in the world.
We need to train ourselves to develop this ardour. Yes, it
will take time and a lot of effort. It will involve some complex
process. But it simply has to be done, and the earlier we start it and
keep the pace, the better!
We have to be most wary of the danger of routine, which is
like the tomb of fervor. This can easily fall on us, especially these
days when there are just too many things that grab our attention to
distraction.
Routine is when instead of pursuing our real goal, we get
entangled with other not-so-important things though they also have
certain legitimate value. This is a big problem, since very often we
get lost in our sense of priorities in life.
The subtle and very deceptive character of routine is that
it can fill us with many things, it can engage us with all sorts of
exciting challenges and projects, and yet miss the main or the most
important point in life.
Routine is when we can deaden our sensitivity towards God
and others, and enliven our self-absorption to the point of
invincibility. Routine is actually a form of escapism from God,
from reality, from our true responsibilities. It is a form of
pampering and spoiling ourselves. Whatever effort, sacrifice,
investment is involved in routine is done in pursuit of self-interest
rather than of God’s will.
We have to make sure that we are always burning with the
zeal of love. We need to fill our mind and heart with love, and all
that love brings—goodness, patience, understanding and compassion,
mercy, gratuitous acts of service, generosity and magnanimity.
The zeal of love should always come out fresh from the
heart, fresh from its real and ultimate source who is God. It’s always
new, original, virginal, creative and productive. Love, if it is real,
can never grow old and stale, it cannot be just a copycat. It likes to
renew itself perpetually, without getting tired.
It always likes to be better, to do and give oneself more.
Its motto can very well be captured in the message of an old song that
says today should always be better than yesterday, and tomorrow better
than today.
If we have true love, we will always feel the need to
begin and begin again for that is how our constant renewal becomes
attainable, and not left simply as a mere desire.
fervor and passion. We have to be driven, because this is a clear sign
of genuine love. When there is lethargy or lukewarmness, you can be
sure love is fading or has faded out.
This fervor and zeal was expressed by Christ himself who
said: “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be
already kindled?” (Lk 12,49) And he went all the way to offer his life
on the cross. That was how passionate he was in carrying out his
mission in the world.
We need to train ourselves to develop this ardour. Yes, it
will take time and a lot of effort. It will involve some complex
process. But it simply has to be done, and the earlier we start it and
keep the pace, the better!
We have to be most wary of the danger of routine, which is
like the tomb of fervor. This can easily fall on us, especially these
days when there are just too many things that grab our attention to
distraction.
Routine is when instead of pursuing our real goal, we get
entangled with other not-so-important things though they also have
certain legitimate value. This is a big problem, since very often we
get lost in our sense of priorities in life.
The subtle and very deceptive character of routine is that
it can fill us with many things, it can engage us with all sorts of
exciting challenges and projects, and yet miss the main or the most
important point in life.
Routine is when we can deaden our sensitivity towards God
and others, and enliven our self-absorption to the point of
invincibility. Routine is actually a form of escapism from God,
from reality, from our true responsibilities. It is a form of
pampering and spoiling ourselves. Whatever effort, sacrifice,
investment is involved in routine is done in pursuit of self-interest
rather than of God’s will.
We have to make sure that we are always burning with the
zeal of love. We need to fill our mind and heart with love, and all
that love brings—goodness, patience, understanding and compassion,
mercy, gratuitous acts of service, generosity and magnanimity.
The zeal of love should always come out fresh from the
heart, fresh from its real and ultimate source who is God. It’s always
new, original, virginal, creative and productive. Love, if it is real,
can never grow old and stale, it cannot be just a copycat. It likes to
renew itself perpetually, without getting tired.
It always likes to be better, to do and give oneself more.
Its motto can very well be captured in the message of an old song that
says today should always be better than yesterday, and tomorrow better
than today.
If we have true love, we will always feel the need to
begin and begin again for that is how our constant renewal becomes
attainable, and not left simply as a mere desire.
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