Becoming A Person of Love

We had a powerful recollection by Fr. Andrew Recepcion and he mentioned, "Love is not what you do, it's who you are."  We can do many good things in this world, and yet if we are not transformed to be a person of love, then for us it would have been all in vain.

Some questions we can ask ourselves:

Are we patient? Are we kind? Are we not jealous? Do we keep a record of wrongs? Are we not pompous? Do we rejoice over wrongdoing? Is our temper quick to rise? These are some questions based on the guidelines about love in 1 Corinthians 13, written by St. Paul.

Becoming a person of love is the evidence of a life surrendered to God.  We allow God to take control of our lives, making us love, for God is love.  Like Mother Teresa or the Pope, people cannot help but be transformed with their presence for God flows through them, love flows through them and into our lives.

Fr. Andrew also said, "No person should pass your way in vain."  This was particularly striking. It was a challenge that every man or woman we encounter should have felt the love of Christ through us. It would be in vain if we left no impact because we lack love.  For Christ's love compels us...(2 Cor 5:14).

A friend of mine, a fellow missionary described to me a person that impacted him while on the way to the recollection.  He said, "I saw an old lady all filled with sweat on her face and was carrying the image of the Sto. Nino with difficulty, but I could not fail to notice that despite her situation her face was full of joy."  This lady, without saying anything inspired my friend.

Let us then take the challenge today to make Christ felt in every person we encounter, and not let the opportunities go in vain. It may be the taxi driver, the waiter, your co-worker, or the person nearest you as you read this.  For Christ's love compels us...(2 Cor 5:14).