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Happening ... in the Local Church
Let us love ...
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish, but might have eternal life” (John 3:16). “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God … If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:7-20).
These Scripture citations have an obvious focus on love and represent only a small portion of the Bible’s discourse on the topic.
We are now in the midst of the Christmas season, celebrating Jesus’ birthday, and have spent time with family, friends and co-workers. Hopefully, some have visited or helped those who for whatever reason are less fortunate (for example, shut-ins, prisoners, the incapacitated, the unemployed, etc.).
For many (myself included), it is a great struggle to love as we are called to do in Scripture, even during Christmas. The love that God calls us to share goes beyond the physical, pleasurable, lustful, self-seeking and self-gratification that our culture holds to be love. We have to aim toward supernatural love. This kind of love is not a feeling, but a choice until God fills us with the necessary grace to actuate this supernatural love automatically.
Our supernatural goal should be a default to love those we meet and not judge them. This is extremely hard regardless of circumstances or neighborhood, whether it be in Carmel, Lafayette or Bryant; home, school or work; on the street, in church or in prison … It is easier to be indifferent. It is better to love than reject and the reward is great for those who love.
“… God is love” (1 John 4:8). “In his Eucharistic presence, he remains mysteriously in our midst as the One who loved us and gave himself up for us, and he remains under signs that express and communicate this love …” (CCC 1380). Take some time before the Blessed Sacrament to take advantage of this Presence before we switch to Ordinary Time on the Church calendar and express your desire to love him and your neighbor as you should. Remember St. John’s admonition: “Children, let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and truth” (1 John 3:18).
This guest editorial was written by Fred Laux, a longtime parishioner in the diocese and currently an inmate at the Pendleton Correctional Facility.