From Our Pastor's Desk
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From Our Pastor's Desk
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Love More, Love Better
In the second reading of the Mass, Saint Paul reminds us that the earthly man, despite all his miseries, can be transformed into the heavenly man by the power of love. Then, in the Gospel, Jesus specifies that this love is without limits, the one inscribed in every human heart as the golden rule of universal morality: “Treat others as you want them to treat you.” The earth would be a paradise if we all put this teaching into practice! But in our everyday life, things get complicated. If we look around, we realize that most people are driven not by the law of love, but by the law of echo. Yes, “echo”! If you shout into a ravine, you hear your own words repeated. Some people do the same in life: when others are kind and helpful to you, you echo that kindness and helpfulness in return, but if they disturb your peace or threaten your interests, you raise your voice and claim your rights. This does not happen when one lives according to the law of love, because your neighbor becomes your brother. Jesus Christ died for everyone—for that unpleasant neighbor, the indiscreet friend, the authoritarian boss, the annoying coworker. Why do so many people live secretly dissatisfied? Why do so many men and women find life monotonous, trivial, and bland? Why do they get bored in the midst of comfort? We live in a society in which it is difficult to learn to love freely. Almost everything we do we question: What is it good for? Is it useful? What do I gain from it? We calculate everything, we measure everything. Our lives would be transformed if we learned to love freely, without seeking anything in return. The most im-portant things in life—friendship, solidarity, closeness, intimacy—cannot be bought with money. They are freely offered without expecting anything in return. May your relationships with others always shine with a love of gentleness, able to endure insults, injuries, and violence. A love that forgives and helps, just as in the episode from the life of King David recounted in the first reading. The central teaching of this Gospel is fundamental, challenging, and timely. It tells us that there is a rule valid for both Christians and non-Christians: “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.” Or better yet, put positively in Christ’s words: “Whatever you would have men do to you, do also to them” (Lk. 6:31). This is the irresistible force we carry within because it comes from the heart of God! This is the secret weapon that Christ has placed in our hands to transform the world! Source: ePriest.com / Best Practices and Homily Resources for Catholic Priests Comments are closed.
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