Let’s train love.

In this “pre-soulful” time, we are asking ourselves serious questions that people have always had to and will have to ask themselves – and they are still relevant. They are not at all covered in the dust of time. Who am I? Where am I from? Where am I going? Why do I live? Does my life have meaning?

These questions include the gospel question, “Lord, are there few who will be saved?” (Lk 13:23). If we had the opportunity to meet Jesus, we would certainly not forgive her. The Lord Jesus does not directly answer this question, nor does He want to answer it. Why does a person ask about the number? Is he looking for reassurance in the numbers? Or does he think that when all of Israel is saved, so will he? If the number of rescued is small, the views are insignificant, and why bother then? This is how many think calculatingly. For Jesus, however, this is something more important than the number. He wants to show us how we will achieve salvation. He came for all and did not expel anyone from His kingdom. On the contrary, he cries to himself, “Come unto me all… ” (Mt 11:28).

And today, He says to us, ‘Strive! Strain! And the Greek word of the original text – agonizes that – expresses it even sharper: Struggle as with death! Wrestle to death, wrestle as an athlete who gives off his last strength to achieve his goal! Thus, we understand that whether God accepts us depends on our willingness to follow Christ. God has done everything for us. Further, humanly speaking, it can no longer go. However, it is not enough to belong in his Church or have a perfect knowledge of his doctrine without being willing to live his life.

It is necessary to realize that, by his nature, man cannot see and love God. Living in heaven requires a specific adaptation, which we do not have in our nature. If we were to live on another planet, we would need a different breathing organ because our lungs are not adapted to it. Similarly, to live happily in heaven, we require new abilities to know into know the supernatural life. This life, beyond our capabilities, was given to us in the sacrament of baptism and is constantly being enhanced by partaking in other sacraments.

The apostle John writes, “God is love.” And for this life of love, we must prepare ourselves with a dash of love for God and our neighbor. We must train pets here on earth to withstand the new conditions of heaven. Let’s see how the people around us are trying to do this together. French wholesaler Eduard Laclero turned part of his shop into a canteen for unemployed people. In the store, they are given free food, and in the adjacent dining room, they can safely eat it. If someone has money, they will receive a 30 percent discount when buying basic groceries. When Laclero was minor, one plate was prepared daily for the poor at the poor table. Today, in his shop, there are as many plates as there are hungry who come there.

This act of love, repeated daily, looks fabulous. But still, it is a reality of our times! Perhaps people might think of him as a freak, but they would be egoists whose eyes were clouded by matter. Lawler looks at people through the eyes of love, and everything is clear to him. Let’s try to open the eyes of our hearts, and perhaps a new perspective will open up for us, for life, and ourselves. We cannot open all canteens, somewhere it is not even necessary, but we must open our eyes to the heart daily. Another exciting example testifies to the fact that this is possible and necessary.

Even today, there are people in Basel willing to help the poor with moving, craft work, housekeeping, shopping, cleaning, preparing meals, and so on. Others visit the old and sick, form telephone chains so that lonely people can talk to someone on the phone, organize walks, trips, and so on. The secret to the success of this event lies in the fact that everyone who is helped, the organizers, beg to do likewise to others. In this way, love for one’s neighbors multiplies. Christ’s innovative proposal from two thousand years ago is realized here: “as ye shall ye do unto you, so ye shall do unto them.” (Lk 6:31). And people convince themselves that doing good to others is not utopia, but that it is something beautiful that causes joy. Previously hopeless, people felt others wanted them well, which gave for life. He who does well has a strong hope that someone will help him if necessary. Such a person is not afraid to come out of his egoism afterward. Gradually, he realizes that doing good is not a weakness but a special force that transforms a person so that everyone, according to his possibilities and abilities, creates a foreshadowing of heaven.

We, brothers and sisters, have many opportunities to train love. Let’s start today. Maybe in our family or neighborhood, someone feels abandoned and needs help; a few kind words… The Lord Jesus will judge us not by knowing Him, but by how we have served Him in our fellowmen. So let us not be concerned about the number. The important thing is that we know the way. Let us not miss the opportunity the Lord is giving us today!