6th SUNDAY OF EASTER

Defining Love

By Br. Adrian Louise Siayngco, OP

Aside from waking up early in the morning, one of the hardest thing for me is to define love. What is love? Is it just an emotion common to us humans? Is it an attraction to other people? Or is it that which makes you blind? Personally, I see love as action. To love is to act; and this action oftentimes demands our precious
time and our valued self.

This Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of the greatest commandment the world has been struggling with since time immemorial: “That you love one another.” Our world has not had enough of wars and killings and all kinds of atrocities. We witness these forms of violence in our country alone. “Kahit sa TV nga lang e, hindi buo ang gabi ng mga Pilipino kung walang patayan sa balita.” It’s rather funny, but it’s true.

Our Lord Jesus Christ keeps on reminding us that we live not only for ourselves but also for others. Yes, it is natural for us to prioritize first ourselves. “Sino bang pahanga ang ayaw unahin ang kanyang sariling kaligayahan?” But then let us hear Christ’s words: “I have told you this that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete…Love one another as I have loved you.” If we would only reflect on these words of Christ, we will realize that pursuing only our personal goals would merely give us satisfaction, but never the fulfillment and the complete joy that Christ refers to.

And thus, let us heed Christ’s command. With our own little ways and with God’s love, we can change the world. “Magmahal lang ng magmahal. Magbabago rin ang mundo.”