Who loves the most?

Today, it is common knowledge that the world is flooded with streams of words. The language of propaganda and advertisements is how powerful and wealthy are in terms of where goods are offered, sold, and everyone wants to sell to get the best. And people build their careers on words, talk, rant, blatantly lie, and see only profit, material gain, and wealth here on earth. And therefore, let us not be surprised that in this abundance of words, man also commits treachery on words that have nothing to do with his business, and these words mean something much more valuable, more beautiful than mere enrichment, material, and material gain.

Among these words is the word – LOVE. This word is spoken, sung, and talked about in various forms and variations, but typically to our detriment and falsely, for we should all long for the actual content of this word. Therefore, we must not be silent. We must speak, but without pretense, deceit, or falsification of the content of this word.

Let us ask at the outset: Is not the notion of the word love, even in my case as a Christian, just something soulless? As Christians, we are obliged to realize that to love a person means that we must unite.

The central theme of today’s liturgical readings at Mass exists the word love. It is mainly about love for another person. But in doing so, we cannot speak of love for our neighbor if we do not speak of love for God. The readings remind us that we will only truly love God if we also love our neighbors.
The Lord Jesus says: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12).

Jesus’ appeal to active love for our neighbor has its justification and place. The Lord Jesus spoke these words shortly before His departure from this world. It is an excerpt from His beautiful address to His disciples. When Jesus said this as He bade His disciples farewell, it must have mattered to Him. Jesus wants them to love one another. But how? He answers this question for himself, “…as I have loved you” (Jn 15:12). And as Jesus loved us: “Greater love has no one than this, than he who lays down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).

From this, we see that our love for our neighbor must be the same for Jesus. Let us try to pause in our reflection and consider the main features of this discourse of Jesus.

We encounter the command to love our neighbor already in the Old Testament. But this command had different content. It was then held that it was sufficient to love one’s neighbor to about the same extent as one’s blood relative or birth relative. This command did not apply to foreigners. The New Testament already expresses a new understanding that we are to love all people of all nationalities, colors, etc.
This command also applies to the love of enemies. We have plenty of evidence for this from the teachings of Jesus. Perhaps you, brothers and sisters, would like to have a discreet conversation with Jesus on this subject. Are we really to love even our enemies? But we realize that when Jesus said it, we are not to doubt it. That is his will, and that is Jesus’ teaching. He knows best what we are to do and what will do us the best. Therefore, let us trust Jesus.

Loving another person already has a basis in natural causes and esoteric teachings. Above all, it stems from respect for the other person. All men are equal. Everyone is human and has the right to be treated as such. Therefore, we are to see in every man a brother. Whether he is black or white, whether he has ordinary eyes or slanting eyes, he is a human being. Therefore, a cordial and friendly environment must be created among human beings. If we also remember that every human being is made in the image of God, that he has something of God in him, the more he has a right to our love.
The Lord Jesus loved all men because He saw the image of His Father in their faces. In His love, He went so far as to kneel before men, as He did in the case of the apostles when He knelt to wash their feet. But see also when He died on the cross for us all. He could rightly say then: “Greater love has no one than this than he who lays down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13). Only Jesus and no one else has given us more beautiful proof of love. All similar examples of sacrificial love are but poor imitations of Christ. They are, however, imitable if we do them for Christ’s sake.
What does it mean to abide in the love of Jesus? It means putting ourselves in the needs of other people. To love is not just to talk the talk, but we are to do the deed. True love for our neighbor is humble. It has characteristics of suddenness and gentleness. It does not want to be known, to be glorified. It rejoices in unobtrusively fulfilling its mission.
In accord with Holy Scripture, love is more joyful when we give than when we receive. True love can be likened to a river into which new tributaries constantly flow. As waters fertilize a vast landscape, so true love enriches many. It is well known that no act done out of love goes unanswered, but a new act of love is born. A man who loves his neighbor does not grow old because he still feels joy in the happiness of others.

Dearest Ones, this is something for us. Everyone wants to be happy. And in the words of Jesus, we find the prescription.