The Supremacy of Love

I believe the entire New Testament can be summed up in the word "love." "God is love" according to Scripture and God is truth and wisdom and so much more.  Jesus commanded us, "Love one another as I have loved you," and yet so often we fall short of that commandment. So often Catholics as well as others fail to love and yet at other times I'm overwhelmed by the generosity and compassion I see in the world. I guess we are still in the process of growing towards God and God's will for humankind.  

I was fascinated by an AOL article I read titled, "Millionaire is Giving Away His Entire Fortune," by Terence Neilan. Austrian millionaire, Karl Rabeder has decided to give away all his money saying that "My idea is to have nothing left. Absolutely nothing...Money is counterproductive-it prevents happiness to come." He intends to move into a small hut or studio and sell off his homes. The article tells why he's taking such drastic action. He went on a three week vacation with his wife and he had feelings of guilt and a sense that "there was a connection between his wealth and the poverty he saw." He was quoted as saying, "It was the biggest shock of my life when I realized how horrible, soulless and without feeling the five-star lifestyle is." 

He is giving his money to a non-profit organization that offers small loans to needy people in Central and South America to encourage development. He is offering the poor a way out of poverty. Very noble idea and action!  

This is the kind of love that Jesus spoke about. I'm not sure if this man and his wife are religious or spiritual, but they are following one of Jesus' commands literally "to sell everything and give it to the poor, if you would be a disciple."

I'm curious as to his wife's reaction to all this is. I would imagine she is supportive. 

I would like to hear more about this story in the future to learn about the people Mr. and Mrs. Rabeder help, the good that comes from their life-changing decision. 

In the end, it's all about love. As St. John of the Cross said, "In the evening of life you will be judged on how well you have loved." Perhaps the greatest lessons we can learn in this life have to do with love, generosity and compassion.  Happy Valentine's Day! Many blessings to you and an appreciation for God's immense love for you!!

NJA

I am united forever to God whom I have loved with all the strength of my heart. 

St. Therese of Lisieux

Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.  Thomas Aquinas

They do not love, that do not show their love.  

Shakespeare- Two Gentlemen of Verona

Love One Another

The greatest words ever spoken about love were spoken by Jesus.  Those words from Scripture are-  A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another (John 13:34).  I often think about those words and the power they hold. I often wonder how different the world would be if only humankind had listened to those words and acted upon them. A world of peace, tolerance and compassion is what I imagine, if those words were truly lived out throughout salvation history. 

More words about love.....

At the evening of life, you will be examined in love.   (St. John of the Cross)

Love takes up where knowledge leaves off.     (St. Thomas Aquinas)

The greatest happiness in life is the conviction that we are loved-loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.                (Victor Hugo)

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched-they must be felt with the heart.                                                   (Helen Keller)

Love is life. All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love. Everything is, everything exists, only because I love. Everything is united by it alone. Love is God and to die means that I, a particle of love, shall return to the general and eternal source.

                    (Leo Tolstoy)

I hope you have enjoyed reading these thoughts on love, because reading about love on St. Valentine's Day has made me feel gratitude for love. 

NJA

On Love

The first Valentine's Day card was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans in 1415 from the most unlikely of places-the Tower of London. Charles was imprisoned there . He sent a love note to his wife. It is now on display at the British Museum. I was in London this past summer and I visited the Tower of London, quite an experience.  I didn't see the love note that Charles wrote to his wife at the British Museum but I did see the Rosetta Stone, which was fascinating. The stone is made of black basalt. London is a beautiful city, but I can't say I love any city but New York. New York is my favorite city in the world. I'm slightly biased, since I'm a native New Yorker. 

The letter below tells of true love, unconditional love. It's rare, quite beautiful and it is expressed in this letter which tells of love even in the midst of extreme suffering and pain. It expresses the love of a Carmelite nun at the end of a beautiful, selfless life.  It was written on September 30th, 1897 from Mother Agnes of Jesus to M. and Mme. Guerin and Leonie Martin, "Our angel is in heaven. She gave up her last sign at seven o'clock, pressing her crucifix to her heart and saying: "Oh! I love you!" She had just lifted her eyes to heaven; what was she seeing!" The angel Mother Agnes spoke of was her sister, Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. Therese is a saint and the youngest doctor of the Church and after suffering terribly at the end of her short life, she only had words of love for Jesus. Unconditional love for God, love without conditions.  (The letter is from St. Therese of Lisieux-her last conversations translated by John Clarke, O.C.D.)

NJA

Early Lessons in Social Justice

Years ago when I was in college a psychology professor stated, "Food is love." He then went on to explain why. Growing up in a large Italian-American household, I learned early on that food was love, it was something I experienced. My Aunt Connie who lived upstairs from my family, was always cooking delicious Italian meals. She still is. My mother was also an excellent cook. I was determined, when I realized the importance of good food, to learn how to cook like them. I have mastered Italian tomato sauce, which is the basis for so many dishes and other traditional Italian foods. I watched my mother and aunt cook, as a young adult, I wanted to learn from them. I knew I had to watch them to find out. Later on my own family and friends, benefited from that determination. 

So growing up, food and the socialization that took place at meals was filled with love. It was a time to communicate, discuss, share stories, laugh and gather together. Now sociologists are noting that mealtime is crucial for modern families. Families who eat together, especially dinner, gain much from the experience. Children who eat dinner with their families gain tremendous benefits and are less likely to do drugs. That's how important it is.

In the house on East 52nd Street where I spent my childhood, I learned from my family about social justice. It wasn't until years later that I realized that my family, by always inviting neighbors, relatives or friends to share lunch or dinner were teaching the younger members of the family about sharing, kindness, giving and love. There was always more than enough food, of course, in case people should stop by unexpectedly. People would come and go, and they would enjoy the food and company. And I would listen intently to those stories that came into that house, from all over Brooklyn. Relatives and friends would come by from South Brooklyn, as we called it. There were stories from "the docks," stories from Bensonhurst and Red Hook. The stories always fascinated me and my brother and cousins. Now that I think about it, it was like growing up on a sitcom. So years later when I was in college and the psychology professor stated, "Food is love," I thought to myself, he's absolutely right, I learned that from my family.

NJA