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What matters? What is it that really counts when it comes down to the most essential elements of life? What is it we should be concerned about no matter what else happens to us?
In the fifteenth chapter of the Gospel of John, we hear Jesus speaking to us shortly before his death. He is giving us the most important advice of our lives. He is, in a way, telling us what we must do if we want to be at peace and find happiness. And so he says: "This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."
Some of us may not like to hear these words. We may have worked hard to be successful in some area of life, and we don't want to hear that in the end only our love will matter. But we have to face the facts. Our love is what really matters in the sight of God. We will not be judged on anything else. This is not to
say that our education or our work doesn't matter. If what we
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do helps other people, then our work can be a work of love. But if we neglect to foster our relationships of love and caring, then we have not really been successful at life.
The beginning of all love is paying attention. If all of our love consists in only doing things for others, we may find that after a while, we have grown no closer to those whom we say we love. We can often
assume a dangerous attitude that I am the helper, and all others are those who are helped. But this sets up a false distance between others and ourselves. True love does not only give gifts, but it respects the other as a gift from God. Those who are close to God, pay attention not only to God, but to God's
people as well.
Peace, Father John
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