“No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for
one’s friends.”
Most of us will probably never be faced with the prospect of
sacrificing ourselves for another. But actually we are called to do just that
every day. Every time we put someone else’s wellbeing ahead of our own, we are
laying down our lives for another. Every time we respond to a baby’s call in
the night, every time we listen to a friend’s tale of family tensions we die to
ourselves. Every time we volunteer for a charity or help a stranded traveler or
give money to the needy, we lay down our lives for another.
This may be seen as ordinary run of the mill behavior but then
you might be surprised to learn how extraordinary it is. Such behavior is the
result of a choice, a choice for love. Every time we do one of these small
things for someone else, we love our brothers and sisters as Jesus loves us and
we have chosen to pay the cost.
The cost is the pain we feel for those we love. The cost is
giving up our self pride and living only for Christ. In this way the love of
God, His saving power, is revealed to all the world through us, His Church.
Let us remember to follow Christ as He taught us, and lay down
our lives daily in all the innumerable small ways that we encounter from day to
day.
Pax Vobiscum
Easter Sunday
No comments:
Post a Comment