Love Until It Hurts
“I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” ~ Saint Teresa of Calcutta
There are some people in our recent history whom I truly wish that I would have had the privilege of meeting. One of the high points of my life was when I sang in the seminary choir for Pope John Paul II’s visit to the United States when he was in Chicago. His openness, love, and vitality were electric. Another person I dearly wish I had the chance to meet would have been Mother Teresa of Calcutta. What a woman. What a woman of faith. What a saint!
Today’s quote is very appropriate for a Christian, especially on a Friday. Fridays, as you know, are the days we most often think about Jesus’ incredible love for us that led Him to Calvary. Jesus loved until it hurt. His hurt was not a tiny boo boo. His hurt was the ignominy of the cross. Such torture and pain He endured! And He endured it all because of His great love — love for you and for me.
We see Mother Teresa’s quote operative in Jesus’ passion and death. His hurt brought more love. Hanging on the cross, He not only loved us to His death, He also summoned enough love to forgive those who were killing Him. Greater love has no person than to lay down his life for his friends. We read that in scripture and we also read that Jesus said, “I call you friend.”
Jesus, our friend, endured hostility, pain, suffering, torture, and death all for us. When we find ourselves hurt, we need to ask Jesus to give us the grace we need to push past our hurt in order to be able to love even more.
FAITH ACTION: Hold true and firm to your Lenten sacrifices knowing that God is accepting them and purifying them, making you more holy even as you impact the world around you.
Remember: The Fridays of Lent are Days of Abstinence