“LOOKING THROUGH THE EYES OF LOVE”

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Last Day of the 51^st International Eucharistic Congress

Jer 1: 4 – 5. 17 – 19 / Ps 71 / 1 Cor 12: 31 – 13:13 / Lk 4: 21 – 30

What is love? For St. Augustine, “love is the beauty of the soul.” For the great Martin Luther King, “love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into friend.” Well, let’s be more recent… For Lola Nidora, “ ang love ay hindi minamadali. Ang pag- ibig ay marunong maghintay sa tamang panahon.” And finally, for Miram Santiago, “ ang love ay parang pamasahe sa jeep, minsan, hindi ito nasusuklian.” How about you? What is love?

In our second reading today, Paul tells the Corinthians a chapter – long definition on what love is. We have to bear in mind, that when Paul sent this letter to the Corinthians, he was not trying to make some “kilig moments” with them. Rather, his hymn on love was meant to restore peace and unity in the community that has become in conflict with one another. When Paul tells them what love is; he was teaching the people that only when they have love can they look at one another as brothers and sisters. Only when they have love can they forgive and be at peace with one another.

And our Gospel today is an example of a people who lacks this kind of love. When Jesus announced to them that he was the fulfillment of Scriptures, they rejected him. They cannot accept someone like them an ordinary man to be their savior! Since they do not have love, then they fail to accept the presence of Jesus the Savior in their midst.

My dear friends, this is also our challenge this Sunday – that if we want to have peace in our relationships especially in the family then we need to have that brand of love which Paul mentions in our second reading today. In the family, if there is love, then it’s possible for the wife to understand her husband. If there is love, then it’s possible for the husband to be more truthful to his wife. If there is love, then it’s possible for children to be more respectful to their parents. For the youth of today, if you have love, then it’s easy to believe that indeed may forever! If you have love, then it’s possible to respect each other. If you have love then it’s possible to help more and hate less. Only when we have God’s love can we truly accept one another as a brother or a sister in the one family of God.

Today, we shall finally close the weeklong celebration of the 51^st International Eucharistic Congress. We have heard a lot of inspiring lectures and testimonies from the speakers. We have met a lot of new friends from other nations. Our faith has been more strengthened after seeing the ocean of people participating in the many liturgical activities. However, all these will end in futility if we do not have love. We can only appreciate the ordinary celebration of the Eucharist extraordinarily if we have love!

A few months ago, I was asked by the sisters of the Missionaries of Charity to give a recollection to the members of their youth apostolate. When I arrived in the venue, the hall was filled with many youngsters like me. Assisting in the recollection were some youth volunteers from other schools. While I was giving the talk, I noticed the enthusiasm of these youth volunteers in serving their fellow youth. During the break, I asked one of these volunteers a question, “It’s Saturday! It’s a day for gimmick and barkada outings! Why are you here?” The youth volunteer humbly replied, “Father, I am here because at one point in my life, I realize how privileged am I as a youth of today. And so, I must share such blessing by serving my fellow youth. For what is life if it is not shared with others?” For me that youth volunteer is someone who has experienced God’s love more intimately in her life. Thus, how can she not share such experience of love with others?

How about us? Does our love compel us to see others as a fellow brother and sister? Does our love compel us to serve others especially the poor? Does our love compel us to see Jesus in the Eucharist? If not, then, we beg for such brand of love in our Mass today. Amen.

Photo taken from www.freepublic.com