The small and the big in love

WHERE there is true love, everything becomes meaningful

and is pursued with a passion. The small and ordinary things of the

day become very significant. There is never a dull, monotonous moment

in the daily routine.

   

            And while one’s usual daily task would only involve small

and ordinary things, he is also ready to take on big, extraordinary

things when the need arises. In fact, when one is truly in love, he

will not allow himself to be trapped in some kind of routine, but will

always take the initiative to look for other tasks and challenges if

only to do more good to everyone. He would always be inventive and

creative.

   

            He is not afraid of the effort and sacrifice that may be

involved. He would do all this without expecting any reward, or even

an acknowledgment. He would do them simply because he wants to do

them, he wants to give himself. No special reason is needed other than

sheer goodness.

             Where there is true love, not even problems, difficulties

and misunderstanding, failure, rejection, etc. would detain him from

his total self-giving. He would just be game whatever the outcome of

his love-driven initiatives would be. In fact, tackling the sacrifices

and suffering involved can only mean the authenticity of his love.

             Of course, to be truly in love means one should have the

same attitude God has toward his creation, especially toward us. We

know that God is love. (cfr. 1 Jn 4,8) He is full of goodness. He went

all the way to offering his life on the cross.

  

            Even if his love is not reciprocated and is in fact

rejected, he continues to love. It does not really matter to him if he

is loved in return by us or not. He will continue to love us. Because

of this kind of love, God will offer forgiveness for everyone and will

do everything to bring us back to him, no matter what the cost.

  

            This kind of love is precisely dramatized in full by

Christ who offered his life on the cross for us, for our salvation.

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lays down his life for his

friends.” (Jn 15,13)

  

            And he wants this kind of love to be our love for him and

for one another. In fact, he commands us to do so. “This is my

commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you,” he said.

(Jn 15,13) And he continued, “You are my friends if you do what I

command you.” (Jn 15,14)

  

            It’s quite clear then what exactly would cement our

friendship with Christ—if we know how to love one another as he

himself loved us, a love that goes all the way to offering one’s life

for his friend. We obviously have to prepare ourselves to reach this

ideal and goal, especially disciplining our thoughts, memory,

imagination, emotions and passions, so that they conform to the

standard set forth by Christ himself.

  

            We should be magnanimous especially when that love would

demand some extraordinary effort and sacrifice from us, like when we

are asked to be patient, compassionate, tolerant and merciful with

those who cause us some trouble.

  

            Christ wants us to have the utmost refinement in our love

for one another. “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the

Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter

the kingdom of heaven,” he said. (Mt 5,20) It would not be enough to

avoid harming a person physically. He wants us to avoid even thinking

and desiring evil of a person or calling a person names.

              Christ wants us not to be afraid to undertake big,

ambitious projects for the good of everyone when the chance arises,

and to be flexible in our ways so as to meet the needs of the others

more promptly and effectively.