Loving In The Measure We Know We Are Loved

[Sarah147]

[quote name='holly.o' timestamp='1293311978' post='2194425']
A thought that popped into my head that I thought might be worth sharing.

The Scriptures tell us that this is how we know love:



One of the surest ways to fall in love with someone is to be loved by that person first, to be wooed by an admirer. And many Saints tell us love is repaid by love alone.

As Catholics, we know the depth of God's love for us in the Eucharist - that He gives us His very Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity in a foolishly (to the world) humble and simple way. When we really meditate on this and when the very mystery of this reaches us at our depths, the response to that utter self-gift of Jesus is to give ourselves back in return, in the greatest way we can.

The way we give ourselves to God is different for everyone, but the extent that we are motivated to give ourselves springs from the awareness of His deep love and gift of Himself.

Before I converted, I did, at times, know Jesus loved me. But when I learned of the Eucharist, the reality of that love - how deeply I knew He loves me - increased. To die on the cross was huge, and I know that our separated Christian brothers and sisters do see this as Jesus giving Himself for us.

But what a difference in knowing that Jesus also [i]gives Himself to us[/i] in the Eucharist at every Mass! There is a major difference here that I just realized after Christmas Mass today, and that I don't know if I can put into words right now.

And I thought of how sad it is that Protestants don't have this understanding of God's self-emptying, sacrificial love in the Eucharist. When you know that Your Lord is coming to You under the appearance of bread and wine, doing something outrageous for Him - Mother Teresa comes to mind, but there are so many canonized and everyday Saints I could reference - is really only what makes sense.

I'm not saying those who don't believe in the Eucharist will never accomplish great things out of love for God (and by great I mean this in the sense of St. Therese's little way)... but it is so much easier to be moved to love when you know your Lover's Heart, and that that Heart has done something beyond human imagination to win your love. Also, one of the saddest things is someone who doesn't know that they are loved, or someone who thinks that love stops at a certain point.

Please pray that all Christians will live in unity, centered on the belief of Christ in the Eucharist, and that all of us who are blessed with the faith to already know Our Eucharistic Lord, that the reception of His love and our love for Him will change ourselves and the world.

Merry Christmas!
[/quote]

Holly, what an absolutely true and beautiful post!

I thought that when I visited a Greek Church several months ago. It's so sad that Christians don't have Jesus, truly present in the Eucharist, in their Churches. How hard it must be for them. It made me realize how much we have in the Church! And just how thankful I am for the Eucharist!

Eucharist