(The birds and fall colors outside mom’s front window. See Mary across the street?)
One year, many years ago, the man Jesus knew a fall, one much like this, was going to be the end of his last summer. Good Friday would come before the warmth returned again. Oh, he had confidence in his Father; he knew he would rise again, but it wouldn’t be the same anymore. Was the man Jesus wistful about this last summer? Did he look fondly on the summer’s warmth, the greenness of life, the life of God as seen and felt in all His creation? Did Jesus shed a tear about leaving this life? I think so. Why then was he so willing to die so young, and not just die, but die in the worst way possible, the way designed for the most humiliation, the way that said he was one of the least among humans --- not the greatest as he was? Why would he make this choice, that seems so much like a dark, cold winter? Why?
Love changes everything; the words of that song seem to simplify the complex answer to the question of why. Simple words to describe what no words can really describe, one of God’s greatest gifts to man: love. And now God would SHOW us what cannot be described. Love makes fools of everyone; Love so often defies common sense. True love is a giving without counting the cost; why would anyone do that in a “me-first” world? In particular, why would a God, who could sit on a throne forever (even one here on earth), be worshiped totally forever, and who truly deserved EVERYTHING, choose this? Love will never let you be the same. Even Jesus felt the pull of this great gift of his Father, the ultimate of how we are created in His image.
Jesus may have greatly enjoyed the pleasures of God’s creation, this world and all it had to offer. Scripture shows he truly had a love of life; the warm summer sun must have felt good on his shoulders. He was as human as we are in that regard. But he was so much more; he knew what Life really was, and was always meant to be: one with Him, the Father, and the Holy Spirit.
He lived this life, and saw how good it was; he lived among men, and he loved them, loved each and every one. But he could see the eternal Life prepared for them, and he knew that only he stood between that Life and the men here that he so loved. He could stay and leave things as they were, or choose a terrible death and by it deliver Life for all men, for all time. Stay the same, or change? But Love changes everything; it will never let you be the same. How could He not choose death? Love makes fools of everyone. Surely, in His love, Jesus must be considered the biggest fool of all time.
I think that’s one of the greatest of lessons, the greatest blessing, Jesus gave us in this life. He showed us HOW to love: love doesn’t selfishly seek what’s best only for ourselves. He showed us WHY to love: love seeks what’s best for others, God and neighbor, and then trusts that they will seek what’s best for us. True love is confusing to those who only love this world and themselves; it’s been that way ever since He set the example.
“Why do you Christians follow that man, Jesus, follow him to death?” We don’t follow him to death; we follow him to Life. “Monica, your son Augustine is now a man and he can do as he wishes; let him enjoy life." I wish him to enjoy Life, so I will pray for him as long as I live. “Young lady, if you give birth to that baby, your life will change forever.” If I give birth to MY baby, yes, my Life will change forever. “Ma’am, your husband treats you badly; and your children only cause you pain. Why do you stay?" I remember that His friends abandoned Him, yet He still chose to carry His cross, to die. When it was so hard, He still chose to Love. I will follow where He leads. “Your parents are old and frail; they need so many things; they will be better off in a nursing home; you have enough work to do.” Perhaps, but I remember: Honor thy father and thy mother, that you might have eternal life.
These are choices made in Love. We can will to choose love.
Love is not always easy. Love often seems foolish to others. But in our “foolishness,” we are loving, even those others. They may mock us to the laughter of their friends, but they’ll remember our example and will think on it. They will come to see that we are not fools, even though we seem to do this foolish thing. And then they’ll ask: Why? Perhaps, with the grace of God, they’ll see why, and begin to love, even as Augustine did.
Look at all the fools about us: Guadalupe Partners, The Lingap Children’s Foundation, Maggie’s Place, Matre Ecclesiae Fund for Vocations, Thomas More Law Center, A Simple House, Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist, and so many, many others. They give of their lives, and not count the cost. Look at all the hundreds and thousands they help, one by one, just as Jesus did. Would you call them fools? If you are confused in this confusing world of ours, and sincerely are asking: “How can I love today, as He did?” There are many examples of the fools among us, those who are showing us how to love our neighbor, as He did, and how to love our God.
As I sit and adore what looks like a host of bread on the altar in front of me, I can imagine so many would say of me: “What a fool.” But, love makes fools of everyone.
October is the month of the rosary. May you pray and meditate upon it often, with sincerity, these beads which link Jesus to his mother, and to you. And as you meditate on their love, and what they did, may you be given the grace to do likewise, the grace to love, to be a fool, for Him.
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