“Remain in my love.” (Jn15:9)
Love expresses the tangible presence of Christ; not in words of affection- it is seen in actions, God’s actions and man’s actions. The pinnacle action of love of Christ for man and the Father is shown in His dying on the cross. Man shows his love for God in following His Divine Will.
Jesus invites, “Come and see.” (Mt19:21) He respects our freedom; love demands risk; it demands a response, a decision, a choice, an act of our will. It also demands carrying out of actions which are pleasing to Him; a process of letting go of self, committing to Someone greater than ourselves. It is the shedding of parts of self the way a snake sheds an old skin. It is an act of humility- letting go of pride, self-importance and self-reliance, self -righteousness. It is not easy; it is not selective; it is not abstract. It is a question Jesus asks the rich man: “What do you seek?”
Little by little the Lord asks us to relinquish “I” the ego of self, until the self is purged. To relinquish her children up to God may be a woman’s largest choice. He asks her to give up her ideas of what SHE would like them to become and instead must let them rest in God’s hands of mercy. A man may be asked to let go of his ambition, of work success. Work, in the eyes of the world, is his status, his identity. Christ asks man to re-examine what drives him in his work- prestige, power, possessions? There is a cost to follow Jesus. Sometimes achievement has a way of blinding one to one’s true destiny; true commitment means following a road not well traveled by the world. When Love has filled all the empty spaces of one’s heart and life, then God becomes top priority.
There is a certain spectacular freedom in letting oneself completely love Love. It makes one feel powerful even in surrender; strong, even in weakness; hope, even in suffering- a different person from the person before LOVE. Purifying oneself does mean rebirth, a new mutual love; it is love from a pure heart. (1Peter1:22-24). It means I remain in Him and He remains in me.
Jesus invites, “Come and see.” (Mt19:21) He respects our freedom; love demands risk; it demands a response, a decision, a choice, an act of our will. It also demands carrying out of actions which are pleasing to Him; a process of letting go of self, committing to Someone greater than ourselves. It is the shedding of parts of self the way a snake sheds an old skin. It is an act of humility- letting go of pride, self-importance and self-reliance, self -righteousness. It is not easy; it is not selective; it is not abstract. It is a question Jesus asks the rich man: “What do you seek?”
Little by little the Lord asks us to relinquish “I” the ego of self, until the self is purged. To relinquish her children up to God may be a woman’s largest choice. He asks her to give up her ideas of what SHE would like them to become and instead must let them rest in God’s hands of mercy. A man may be asked to let go of his ambition, of work success. Work, in the eyes of the world, is his status, his identity. Christ asks man to re-examine what drives him in his work- prestige, power, possessions? There is a cost to follow Jesus. Sometimes achievement has a way of blinding one to one’s true destiny; true commitment means following a road not well traveled by the world. When Love has filled all the empty spaces of one’s heart and life, then God becomes top priority.
There is a certain spectacular freedom in letting oneself completely love Love. It makes one feel powerful even in surrender; strong, even in weakness; hope, even in suffering- a different person from the person before LOVE. Purifying oneself does mean rebirth, a new mutual love; it is love from a pure heart. (1Peter1:22-24). It means I remain in Him and He remains in me.
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