Love is not passive, Love is strength, so strong that it is the only one that saved the world. And it will save it again. Nevertheless, God is continually begging to receive his love for the sake our completed human being connected the every creature.
*God is Love and He is the source of Love
Jesus said that as the Father loved me, so I loved you (John’s gospel, chap 15). Thus, Love is from God, God is Love. God took the initiative of this covenant of Love. Love is initiative actually, the initiative manifested in our Master, our companion Jesus- Christ. The true and authentic personal relation with him explains the sense of the religious life, the essence of being Christian that leads to serve him through our brothers and sisters.
Christ is the revelation of God’s Love which leads to friendship with Him and His service. Receiving and accept the Love of our Lord implies to love Him. That why St Ignatius would say that there is a need every day to know Jesus- Christ, to love and serve Him ( Spiritual exercises), this is made possible through daily personal prayer and examine of conscience, otherwise the relation with Christ becomes very superficial. With superficiality, there is a lack of that love that should be characterised a disciple of Christ. With an authentic life in God’ love, our world can enjoy the true and authentic disciples of Christ despite of our sins.
Nothing is greater done being loved and love in return. This is the language of Jesus Christ and his Church. Without the strength of Love, nothing solid can be built. In our mission, or in our interaction with others, there is always a need for a kind of energy to fulfil the purpose of being and doing. Love should be the pivotal energy for the companion of Jesus in all things: In all things ever to love and to serve. This should be manifested in deeds like Jesus- Christ our master and faithful Companion. In fact, Love and deeds are like two wings that help one to be a completed human being. Love ought to show itself in deeds more than in words: Contemplation to attain Love (St Ignatius of Loyola, fourth week of spiritual exercises).
The true and authentic relationship between Jesus and us is the consequence of His relationship with the Father. Thus, we can hear our Lord saying, as my Father loved me, so I loved you. Do you want to know the love that there is in my Father? Look how much I love you. This is the Revelation of Love. Christ reveals the Father’s Love to us. It was the Father who sent Jesus-Christ his only Son (so that we might live through Him). It is not easy to notice that, God is madly in love with us. In this regard, Jesus- Christ is every single day begging friendship and Love with him. He wants to be always our friend for love and falling in love with him. At least, this is a beautiful thing to desire. This year, I asked a question to one of my directees during RDL: What do you desire to receive from God during this retreat. She answered: I want to let God loving me so that I can love others. I wish that his love can guide my life. Pedro Arrupe said: Nothing is more practical than finding God, than falling in Love in a quite absolute, final way. What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything.
It will decide what will get you out of bed in the morning, what you do with your evenings, how you spend your weekends, what you read, whom you know, what breaks your heart, and what amazes you with joy and gratitude. Fall in Love, stay in love, and it will decide everything. Amen!
Guillaume Semugisha, S.J