Through Lent with Pope Francis
Loving ourselves is an important psychological prerequisite for being able to love others: “If a man is mean to himself, to whom will he be generous? No one is meaner than the man who is grudging to himself ” (Sir 14:5-6 ) Saint Thomas Aquinas explains that “it is more proper in charity to desire to love than to desire to be loved. Consequently, love can transcend and overflow the demands of justice, “expecting nothing in return” (Lk 6:35), and the greatest of loves can lead to “laying down one’s life” for another (cf. Jn 15:13).
Amoris Laetitia 101-2
Can such generosity, which enables us to give freely and fully, really be possible?
Yes, because it is demanded by the Gospel:
“You received without cost, give without cost” (Mt 10:8).
Scripture
John 15:12-17 NCB
“This is my commandment:
love one another
as I have loved you.
No one can have greater love
than to lay down his life for his friends.
You are my friends
if you do what I command you.
“I shall no longer call you servants,
because a servant does not know
what his master is doing.
I have called you friends
because I have revealed to you
everything that I have heard from my Father.
“You did not choose me.
Rather, I chose you.
And I appointed you
to go out and bear fruit,
fruit that will remain,
so that the Father may give you
whatever you ask him in my name.
The command I give you is this:
love one another.”
Thought for Today
Today can you let God gaze on you and love you?
How can you give of yourself freely in your present circumstances?
Music
African Credo – Take and Sanctify by Jude Nnam