Devotionals

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Making Sense Of Love
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


One of the most quoted statement by writers, reporters and other media persons concerning Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s work followed her receipt of her Nobel Peace Prize wherein a reporter eager to get a story asked the nun what humankind could do to promote world peace. Mother Teresa was reported to have thought for a second then said to have responded, “Go home and love your family.”

The unfortunate reality is that the word “love” has been manipulated to such a degree by so many over the past 50 years or so that it has become a rally point for those who know no love. All too often one hears comments like, “I love bingo” or “I just love banana splits” or “Don’t you just love a MacDonald’s Big Mac Hamburger?”

But Mother Teresa’s formula for world peace is based upon the commandment Jesus made to the apostles and us just before He went to the cross that is more tenacious than the casual conversation many of us express in everyday life. In both Jesus’ command and Mother Teresa’s affirmation of Jesus’ command, love is not something one feels. Rather love is a sacrificial act that one does. Through sacrifice, authentic love binds one such that separation causes yearning or a longing to be with the person or persons we are apart from. Authentic love is not a euphoric emotion that sneaks up on us and takes us by surprise and leaves us once the emotional high is over. Rather true love is coming to understand that suffering, separation or grief will not cause love to wax and wane. Love is learned and re-learned again and again superceding time.

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