Love without waiting to be loved

Today is all for Erin! It struck me that the most powerful prayer we can say to God is to love one another! God is love! It is his nature. So if we have the same love amongst us he will surely hear us! Let’s make today and tomorrow so dense of the love amongst us that Jesus amongst us is the one who asks the Father! Who best, then his only son! I will remember to love my neighbour in the present moment ready to the extent that I am ready to give my life, especially in the small things! I found a text by Chiara Lubich, which is quite powerful.

(…)It is not enough to practice tolerance or non-violence, nor does mere friendship or goodwill towards others suffice. It is a love which extends indistinctly towards all: young and old, rich and poor, fellow-countryman or stranger, friend or foe. It requires that we be merciful and forgiving. We have to be the first to love others, taking the initiative and not waiting for others to love us. We must love not in words alone, but concretely, in deeds. And forgetting ourselves to be at the service of others implies sacrifice and fatigue.

True peace and unity come about when this way of life is practiced not only by individuals but by people together, united in mutual love. You will have a chance to experience how true this is by loving one another in these days. In the Christian liturgy there is a song which says: “Where there is charity and love, there is God”. God among you, present in your mutual love, will enlighten and guide you on the steps to take, giving you strength, ardor, joy. And the presence of God will unite you in an invisible but powerful net, even when you are far from one another.

Love, therefore: love among all of you and love sown into every corner of the world among persons, groups and nations, using every means possible, in order that, thanks also to your contribution, there be an invasion of love in the world.

Courage my dear young people! I urge you to go forward dauntlessly. Youth is generous, youth does not count the cost. If we all live this way, humanity will become more and more one family and a rainbow of peace will shine out in the world!

I am with you».