Memorial of Saint John Neumann, Bishop
The first letter of John elevates love so highly as to equate it with God. In today’s love- confused world, it’s easy to misunderstand what love is, and therefore who God is. Many of us think of love as romance, or being lost in another person, or liking someone (or even something) a whole lot. All those things are nice and pleasant, but as we learn with maturity, they are not love. They are not very useful if we want to know who God is. Perhaps to help us, the author of 1 John describes divine, real love.
“God sent his only-begotten son into the world, so that we might have life through him.” Real love is life-giving. One way to see if we are answering the Word’s call to love one-another is to ask, “Are my efforts to love giving life to others?” As nice as they are, flowers and sappy romance are not usually life-giving. They just make us feel good. Real love doesn’t just feel good (Like Jesus at Calvary, sometimes if feels terrible!). No, real love gives life. It provides for the needs of the body, spirit, and heart. It protects and nourishes and nurtures.
We see this playing out as Jesus feeds the crowd. Jesus knew that the people needed his teaching, so he gave it to them. But many people do not experience knowledge as love. So, he asked his disciples to love the crowd another way: by feeding them. The disciples are not ready to love. They are love-impaired. They think love has to come from their own selves. So they question how they will afford the cost to love: 200 days wages! Jesus teaches them; Love comes miraculously from the divine. It multiplies endlessly, and leaves you with abundance. It is simultaneously out-of-control and completely practical. The Divine touches us when we reach out in true love.
In this year of Mercy, let us love one another, love the poor, love those friends and family who need God’s life the most. And in this love, we will get to know God a little better. Amen!
- Chris Nieport