Genesis 2:18-24; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16
Theme: With love, just like with God, everything is Possible!
There was a story told of little John, attaining school age, his parents sent him to a public school. At the end of the school year, John failed all his exams and came last in his class. His parents reasoned that John was not happy at his first school, so they sent him to a different public school. At the end of the school year, John failed all his exams and came last in this his second public school. At cross-roads, John’s parents decided to send him to a Catholic school. At the end of the school year, at this Catholic school, John passed all his exams and he also came first in his class. John’s parents were flabbergasted at his performance and wanted to know how he did it; so his Mom asks him, John what was different this time around that you came first? He responded: Mom, in this my new school, there is a guy in my class hanging on a cross, I figured anyone who fails will be hanged up there, so I said not me, therefore, I studied hard!
Little John, out of fear of a likely crucifixion, studied hard to avoid being hanged on the cross like Jesus. But the true meaning of the Crucifix, which is now being taking out of our class rooms, is the power of love, love that leads to sacrificing one’s life for one’s beloved. John’s gospel was dead on when it says: “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). Jesus did just that for humanity as a whole – what a love, what a price!
Our first reading presents us with a God who is proactive – “it is not good that man should be alone” (Genesis 2:18). Notice that it was not Adam who complained about loneliness, but God knew that Adam was lonely because “no fitting mate was found for him” (Genesis 2:20). Our text suggests that God is aware that for love to make sense, there needs to be an “other” to love. In this context, a woman is proposed as the “other” to be loved. It is easy to realize that the God who creates everything, including human beings, will know the importance of LOVE because he is in loving relationship himself with his creation: “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him” (1 John 4:16).
Creation is an act of love, a love that weds humanity to God, just as a man abandons everything – Father and Mother and is joined to his wife. Here, “love” is understood as sacrifice. Biological family is usually the cradle of love and attachment. For a man to break this attachment in search of love – a woman – is the price to be paid in order to discover the meaning of “love” as sacrifice – you sacrifice one thing to gain another.
God-made-man, Jesus, died to show us the power of love as sacrifice. Today’s second reading says: “he, for a little while was made lower than the angels, that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.” The salvation that is mine and yours costs Christ his blood on the cross – the power of true love.
In the contemporary world of logic and intelligence, this type of sacrificial love seems too much a price to be paid for love. But in God’s wisdom and design, only the simplicity of an innocent child can accept God’s definition of love. Today’s gospel says: “let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (Mark 10:14-15).
Late Elizabeth Taylor, in my reckoning, holds the record on the highest number of spouses: she was married and divorced and remarried seven consecutive times! Welcome to worldly-lust called love! If the law permits divorce what about God? Remember that with love, just like with God, everything is possible!
Assignment for the week:
Can you forgive wrongs done to you, this week, on account of love?