My dear friend,
You know that I love you.
How often words like that are said, but the true meaning
uttered is not sufficiently conveyed, not felt, and not remembered. I told the Friday Men’s Bible Study Group
recently about the last time I saw my father.
It was just another friendly visit, one of many over the years, yet on
that occasion we sat together and spoke at length of the good times past. And at one point I said to my dad, most
sincerely from my heart: “You know that
I love you.” I didn’t know it at the
time, but that would be my last chance to say those words to him, and have
their full meaning appreciated. With
tears in his eyes dad nodded in response; he knew. Looking back, I told the men’s group, that that
was one of the most important conversations I ever had in my life. I will never forget it. The next week at the Bible Study one of the
men said, moved by my words, that he had traveled some distance to visit his
dad the past week, and had that conversation of love. He was glad he took the time, to sincerely,
deliberately, say those words, so often said --- and received --- so casually.
“You know that I love you.”
Words spoken to a friend; they may have meaning, and may perhaps be
understood as they were meant. But words
from the heart, really from the heart are not said in a vacuum, nor heard in a vacuum. The words are not said to a stranger, and
those heartfelt words are supported by and reinforce heartfelt actions. And if they are truly done well, those
actions don’t need the support of words, and they are remembered --- and have
an impact.
Many philosophers have said that true love conveys the
meaning: “I am glad that you exist.” I don’t just like this or that about you, but
everything, all of you. I want to know
you, be with you, now and always. I am
so glad you are in my life, and will be forever. Forever.
That is a love “that you exist”; it is desired forever.
As Christians, forever is part of our life, indeed the
biggest part. We will someday look back at
this life on earth and think: “It was
only a moment,” but a most important moment, like the one on which we were
born. So, my friend, when I say I love
you, with all these words today to explain it, I am also praying that you will
see and remember the actions of my love, and that they have an impact on your
life.
There came a point in my life when I firmly began my life in
the Holy Spirit, willing to be under His graces, His inspirations, on the path
to an eternal life with Him, Jesus and Our Father. Oh, certainly, I strayed from the path since
then, but His Light always brought me back, and I took steps to know Him better
as we traveled together. (I am taking
the Life in the Spirit Seminar starting tonight in my parish.) I look forward one day to the end of this
earthly journey, this moment in my life, and the forever of, I pray, a heavenly
eternity with the Trinity --- but, one not alone with them.
I love you, my friend.
Forever. I want you there, too,
in my forever. Oh I firmly believe that
many of my past friends and relations are already there (and if not, I pray so
soon), but I want my present friends to be there also. And so I don’t just say “I love you” with
words, words you might forget tomorrow, but also with actions. As the Holy Spirit has become a light in my
life, I wish Him to become one in yours also.
By my words, by my actions, by the gifts I give you, by my prayers, I
want you to see the Light of the Holy Spirit that I see. I want you to be on the path to a heavenly
eternity also. Certainly my walk on this
Spirit’s path will be different than yours; all of us are called in different
ways, to be the unique being we were created to be. But I love you, my friend, forever, and want
to be with you and you with me, forever.
I feel so drawn to the Light of the Holy Spirit. As I prayed the Luminous Mysteries of the
Rosary last night, I paused as I meditated on the mystery of the
Transfiguration. Jesus took His friends
with Him there, to the top of the mountain, where together they saw the
Light. Oh how I wish you, my friend,
could see that light, too, and never lose sight of it.
That’s how much I love you.
No comments:
Post a Comment