MAY 2017
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Perhaps Jesus ’ s response surprises us . It ’ s not dense theology . In fact , I believe it ’ s just common sense . What is love ? It is not primarily soft feelings or even electric infatuation . Love is , at its core , SACRIFICE . Hard , painful sacrifice . Now , here ’ s something ironic . Excruciating sacrifice won ’ t ever give us pleasure . Not an ounce of it . But , it can gives us extraordinary happiness . It can give us the peace of mind that is the bedrock of happiness . The peace of mind that comes from doing the right thing .
In my opinion , the greatest theologian who ever lived ( who wasn ’ t fully divine as well as fully human ) is St . Augustine . Augustine nails it . When asked what love is , this great saint avoids dense language , metaphors and analogies . St . Augustine says love is “ simple .” Love is having eyes to see those in need , even our enemies . Love is having ears to hear the cries of the needy . Love is having a mouth to say , “ It will be enormously hard , but I will help you .” And , love is having hands and feet to get the job done .
Here is a modern parable based on a true story from my life . Claudine was a talented writer , the best I knew . She could rivet her readers with truth written with clarity , intellect and heart . Claudine and her husband , Paul , decided it was time to start a family . Both are Catholic , but neither was or is a practicing
Catholic . And , yet , when Claudine wanted advice on having children , she talked with a group of nuns she knew . When I asked her , “ Claudine , why are you asking nuns about having children ? It doesn ’ t add up .” Claudine responded , “ Because they minister to children in need . Because I don ’ t know anyone who loves children more .”
At the advice of the nuns , Claudine and Paul adopted a crack baby whom the good sisters were taking care of . The baby , Saul , turned out to be a huge cross . Saul was brain damaged . Saul couldn ’ t speak . Saul had multiple seizures . Every day !
That was 35-years ago . What do Claudine and Paul say today . They say , “ We learned that love is sacrifice . Tons of it . We also learned that sacrificial love rarely gives us pleasure . However , we learned that sacrificing for Saul is the most important thing we do . It gives us great happiness .”
Claudine and Paul may not say it , but I do . Their sacrificial love for Saul will give them heaven . I hope Claudine and Paul ’ s experience will teach you what to say when someone asks you what you believe Jesus says is the most important thing about love . Jesus says it ’ s SACRIFICE .
Prayer for Hurricane Season
O God , Master of this passing world , hear the humble voices of Your children . The Sea of Galilee obeyed Your order and returned to its former quietude ; You are still the Master of land and sea . We live in the shadow of a danger over which we have no control . The Gulf , like a provoked and angry giant , can awake from its seeming lethargy , overstep its conventional boundaries , invade our land and spread chaos and disaster . During this hurricane season , we turn to You , O loving Father . Spare us from past tragedies whose memories are still so vivid and whose wounds seem to refuse to heal with the passing of time . O Virgin , Star of the Sea , Our Beloved Mother , we ask you to plead with Your Son in our behalf , so that spared from the calamities common to this area and animated with a true spirit of gratitude , we will walk in the footsteps of Your Divine Son to reach the heavenly Jerusalem where a stormless eternity awaits us . Amen .
Originally dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Audrey in 1957 . - Fr . Al Volpe , Cameron Parish , LA
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