A reading from 1 Jn 4:7-10
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.
REFLECTION: "Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God"
How easy it seems to say "love one another", but how difficult it really is.
In daily life, we only hang around people we like, or at least tolerate, and that like or tolerate us back.
Even the internet and social media algorithms are designed to present a world made at our measure. Just for us. Only the things we like are presented to us on those pixels.
How about that annoying coworker? We make fun of them in social media, and backstab them while building kingdoms at the office.
Then there’s the sick cranky elder in our family. We don’t have time for their endless conversations and explanations. We put them in a "home".
How about the child throwing a tantrum? We scream at them and give them an electronic device to shut them up.
Then, there is the unplanned pre-born. We “take care" of that problem by aborting them.
We don't like pain. We don't want to be bothered. So we get rid of those things that are a nuisance. We write checks to charities to feel good about ourselves, but don't get our hands "dirty" by actually meeting the recipients of that money.
How can we change? How can we love?
We start with asking God for faith. He will give us that grace.
Then we do what the world tells us is the most useless activity: we pray in silence, especially in front of the Most Holy Sacrament. Give yourself in silence to the Lord. "Recharge" your love batteries. We cannot give what we don't have.
God loved us first. We can have His love so we can give to others. We just need to ask Him:
"There is a longing in our hearts, O Lord, for You to reveal Yourself to us. There is a longing in our hearts for love we only find in you, our God."
~ Handbook, pg. 49
