The Strength of Selfless Love

Prayer-Soldier · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2018 6:38 pm Post subject: The Strength of Selfless Love

The Strength of Selfless Love

Scripture:

And the Lord was pleased to bruise him in infirmity: if he shall lay down his life for sin, he shall see a long-lived seed, and the will of the Lord shall be prosperous in his hand. Because his soul has labored, he shall see and be filled: by his knowledge shall this my just servant justify many, and he shall bear their iniquities.
(Isaiah 53:10-11)

Having therefore a great high priest that has passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God: let us hold fast our confession. For we have not a high priest, who can not have compassion on our infirmities: but one tempted in all things like as we are, without sin. Let us go therefore with confidence to the throne of grace: that we may obtain mercy, and find grace in seasonable aid.
(Hebrews 4:14-16)

And James and John the sons of Zebedee, come to him, saying: Master, we desire that whatsoever we shall ask, you would do it for us: But he said to them: What would you that I should do for you? And they said: Grant to us, that we may sit, one on your right hand, and the other on your left hand, in your glory. And Jesus said to them: You know not what you ask. Can you drink of the chalice that I drink of: or be baptized with the baptism wherewith I am baptized? But they said to him: We can. And Jesus said to them: You shall indeed drink of the chalice that I drink of: and with the baptism wherewith I am baptized, you shall be baptized. But to sit on my right hand, or on my left, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared.

And the ten hearing it, began to be much displeased at James and John. But Jesus calling them, said to them: You know that they who seem to rule over the Gentiles, lord it over them: and their princes have power over them. But it is not so among you: but whosoever will be greater, shall be your minister. And whosoever will be first among you, shall be the servant of all. For the Son of man also is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.
(Mark 10:35-45)

Reflection:

We have but one life to live and give. The question is, how will we live and give during this time before us? In our youth, the question often asked is, ?What do you want to be when you grow up?? The child often chooses noble professions; those where they help or save others in some way. Sometimes they choose something which offers adventure or excitement, but rarely do they profess a desire to become a person of evil.

As we grow, regardless of what we have done, the question remains as to what will become of our future, for as we grow, we also have the opportunity of change. We might look back and declare, what I thought is not what turned out. So where shall we go from here? The answer often comes from our leanings to selfishness or selflessness. Whichever rules leads us in our choices.

While notoriety may be attached to the bully, criminal, or tyrant; the sum of their legacy is the misery of those who suffer at their hands. The selfish heart is blinded to the harm which is caused and the pain suffered by the innocent. In the hands of the selfish heart, lives suffer or may be taken entirely. It is such hearts which turn away from the blessings of selfless love and the sanctity of life.

We might ask, how does the ambitions of the innocent child turn away from the light to wander in the dark? Social Scientists give many opinions of nature and nurture, but they overlook the power we have within us; a power to choose to turn away from the darkness of selfishness and towards the light of selflessness.

Each day we wake, the question becomes, what will I be today? Will I do what God asks of me or will I succumb to the snares of selfish desires? The evil one endeavors to blind us to the days of our innocent desires to help and to serve. The one of darkness tempts us to dark behaviors, but if we are honest, the ways of darkness are never fulfilling. They merely pass our time into emptiness and the pain of eternal darkness.

There is a light sent to lead us away from the dark. It is the light of love. There was One sent who holds this light as a beacon unto our path. It cannot be traveled by the selfish heart, for the light removes the cold of the darkness and replaces it with the warmth of selfless love. In the fullness of the light of love, the selfish heart becomes extinguished. And so it was, the only begotten Son of God was sent so we might have the light and so we might observe the ultimate example of the light; the light of civility, compassion, caring, charity; all ingredients of what we call love.

It is natural for us to desire to become a person which others might hold in esteem, but it is darkness which leads us to abuse our positions and our relationships so that esteem is forever lost. It is darkness which causes us to treat others as if they are less than us. It is darkness which leads us to a legacy whereby there is little affection attached to our existence.

If we follow the ways of the light of God, we will discover the blessings of selflessness, for as we engage one another with a selfless heart, we share the blessings of the ingredients of love. It becomes a light which fulfills us and yields hearts filled with fond memories of our existence; memories over which heaven rejoices; memories which are the treasure of heaven. (cf Matthew 6:19-21)

Questions for further reflection:

In what ways has another suffered for our iniquities?

What does the path of mercy yield?

In what ways may our selflessness yield the treasure of heaven?

May the peace and blessings of the Lord be with you always,
Prayer Soldier