Contemplating the Light
#LoveWins?
Photo By: Flickr/Kevin Cole
The hashtag #LoveWins is being used online to express approval of the Supreme Court's recent ruling on marriage. Given the insulting rhetoric on both sides of this issue, it's hard to see victory or anything resembling God's law of love.
Am I the only one who is disturbed by the name-calling that has become so common in the media and in online in discussions about love and marriage? Have we lost the ability to be civil to those with whom we disagree?
Ironically, we seem to have forgotten how to love in the way described in the 1st Corinthians passage read so frequently at weddings:
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
In a section on social justice and respect for the human person, the Catechism of the Catholic Church outlines the exceptionally difficult task of following Christ's command to love by respecting our neighbors "(without any exception) as ‘another self,’ above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity.” (1931)
The Catechism goes on to explain: "This same duty extends to those who think or act differently from us. The teaching of Christ goes so far as to require the forgiveness of offenses. He extends the commandment of love, which is that of the New Law, to all enemies. Liberation in the spirit of the Gospel is incompatible with hatred of one’s enemy as a person, but not with hatred of the evil that he does as an enemy." (1933)
This is a hard teaching! How difficult it is to be patient and kind and not easily angered when we want to be heard. When we fail in the tough task of communicating with respect, we are labelled haters and hypocrites-- more name-calling-- and the integrity of our message is lost in the contradiction.
As Christians, we know that love has already won through the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ who has conquered the world.
God is love. We are called to be a reflection of His love in this messy, complicated and sinful world. Love truly wins when we can show honor, respect and kindness to all people, especially those with different ideas.
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About the Author
After her mother's sudden death and months of arguing with God, Lora Ward Wilson reclaimed her Catholic faith ten years ago. She devoured books by Scott Hahn, Thomas Merton and St. Augustine, along with the Cathecism and began to see the truth and beauty of the Catholicism for the first time.
God's grace led her to become a non-directed kidney donor in 2006. Her donation story was featured in the Pittsburgh Catholic to promote the National Donor Sabbath. Lora strives to use her writing skills using to encourage organ donation and to express her Catholic faith.
She is active in her parish's music ministry as an organist and choir member, and writes hymns and other songs. She self-published two booklets of song lyrics and photography, A Difference and Invite Him In, and has contributed articles for print and online publication.
