Love Anyway

 

Sitting in the adoration chapel this Memorial Day afternoon, all is quiet.  It’s often in such times as this that my heart is touched.  Near me is a friend I see most days here, and also a long-time friend, now back from a winter nap in Florida.  We will have some catching up to do tomorrow.  But, before I go on, wait, a man dressed in a shirt of stars and “USA”  is at the door, holding a rosary and asking to be let in.  A former soldier here on Memorial Day to give thanks; how could I deny him entry.

But, the heart of this reflection is written, or should I say copied from, Fr. Bartunek’s book, The Better Part.  Reflecting on John 16:1-15 he wrote:

“God is a total unity of persons, a community of love, of self-giving.  Whatever one has, the others receive.  There is no holding back, no hidden agendas, no manipulation --- it’s absolute generosity and unlimited self-donation.  And just think, we are created in His image.  We are meant to interact with one another with that same generosity.  This was the new commandment that Christ gave us during the Last Supper, that we “love one another” as He as loved us, which to means to love as the Father has loved Him.  We can’t grasp completely the mystery of the Trinity, but we can enter into it by loving, and loving is better than grasping anyway. 

Through the enlightenment that comes at Pentecost, all will recognize that Jesus was not the sinner his accusers claimed Him to be; rather, their rejection of Him will be shown up as the sin of disbelief.”

And Fr. Bartunek concluded, “(Lord), I feel if every sentence, every phrase, You utter is overflowing with meaning that goes way beyond me.  Your words are a waterfall of light, and they dazzle me.  Dear Lord, take me by the hand and guide me.  Every day, help me to understand just a little bit more about You and Your Kingdom and how to follow You.  This is all I desire; this is all I hope for.  Teach me the way to go. … Help me to love others with Your Love.”

All these recent days’ Gospels are from John’s Last Supper discourse gospel, in which he creates a summary of all that Jesus has been teaching His apostles.  These are His final words before His crucifixion and death, and a summary of what He wanted the apostles to learn and do: “Love as I have loved you.”  In past blog posts I’ve written some thoughts on this matter, but Fr. Bartunek says it better than I ever could.  Love entails suffering in this life, but it brings you everlasting light in the next.  Don’t be angry or irritated at anything, Wait!  There is a reason for all suffering.  Continue to act with love, anyway. Especially in the little things, like stopping what you are doing to open the door for a humble veteran seeking to praise God.