Love One Another

Pope Francis presided over a Jubilee Mass for Teens in St Peter's Square and told them "the true friends of Jesus stand out essentially by the genuine love that shines forth in their way of life." “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (Jn 13:35).

Dear young friends, what an enormous responsibility the Lord gives us today!  He tells us that the world will recognize the disciples of Jesus by the way they love one another.  Love, in other words, is the Christian’s identity card, the only valid “document” identifying us as Christians.  If this card expires and is not constantly renewed, we stop being witnesses of the Master.  So I ask you: Do you wish to say yes to Jesus’ invitation to be his disciples?  Do you wish to be his faithful friends?  The true friends of Jesus stand out essentially by the genuine love that shines forth in their way of life.  Do you want to experience his love?  Let us learn from him, for his words are a school of life, a school where we learn to love.

Before all else, love is beautiful, it is the path to happiness.  But it is not an easy path.  It is demanding and it requires effort.  He also told them that although love is the path to happiness, it is not an easy one and requires effort. He also said, happiness has no price.  "It cannot be bought: it is not an app that you can download on your phones nor will the latest update bring you freedom and grandeur in love."  Think, for example, of when we receive a gift.  It makes us happy, but receiving a gift means that someone generous has invested time and effort; by their gift they also give us a bit of themselves, a sacrifice they have made.  To love means to give, not only something material, but also something of one’s self: one’s own time, one’s friendship, and one’s own abilities.  Look to the Lord, who is never outdone in generosity.  We receive so many gifts from him, and every day we should thank him… 

Pat Schifini, OSU