“There is no greater self-mastery than to make oneself a servant, the willing servant of all souls! This is how to gain the greatest honours, both on earth and in Heaven.” (Saint Josemaría, “The Forge”, 1045).
I have been reflecting on love.
I have never been a Romantic. When we use the word Romantic we are technically referring to a movement in literature and art during the 18th and 19th centuries, which considered that emotion and connection to nature were the most important things to consider. As such a true romantic is a person who is willing to do anything for love.
And though this might sound wonderful in theory, in practice it is far less attractive. You see, in theory, a true Romantic would be willing to lie or cheat or steal in order to obtain the object of their affection. This means that a true Romantic would be willing to be unfaithful to their current partner just so that they could have a romantic relationship with a new partner. Or, if they did not find a new partner, a true Romantic would be loyal to their partner only as long as they had feelings of love for that partner. In other words – for a true Romantic – the feeling of love is the thing that governs their whole life.
And I have been reflecting on that today, because though Christ (God Himself) loves us more than we could ever imagine, He was not a Romantic. His love did not feel good. Walking around in the heat of the day without adequate food or water or a safe place to lay His head, the Son of Man did not feel good. Tired in His Human Form, when He had access to His Divine Nature and could banish that frailty, did not feel good.
And never once did He falter. Never once did Christ say or think anything that said that the feeling of discomfort was more powerful than His love for us.
And when I consider that He had that feeling for all eternity as God is ever-present, even though He only entered time and space in that moment of the Immaculate Conception, it occurs to me that He has far more suffering than I could ever imagine and He dealt with that suffering for me. Only for love of me.
“Think how pleasing to Our Lord is the incense burnt in his honour. Think also how little the things of this earth are worth; even as they begin they are already ending. In Heaven, instead, a great Love awaits you, with no betrayals and no deceptions. The fullness of love, the fullness of beauty and greatness and knowledge ... And it will never cloy: it will satiate, yet still you will want more.” (Saint Josemaría, “The Forge”, 995).
For I can see clearly today that there is no romance in true love. For true love does not feel good. True love hurts…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.