January 26, 2025.
“And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me. Because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives. And recovery of sight to the blind. To set at liberty those who are oppressed.” (Luke 4, 17-21)
Christ did not become man to make our lives difficult with ethical laws impossible to comply. Quite the opposite, he came to give us freedom, hope, and happiness. Now then, this will only be possible if we pay attention to him, if we obey him, if we imitate him. And fulfilling the moral laws is nothing more than imitating him.
Definitely, we will only be truly free and happy if we love. All that is not true love, does not free us but rather enslaves us. On the other hand, we feel good because we draw out the best in ourselves and because we add to the happiness of others. However we must not forget that love always implies giving up things and sacrifice, forgetting about one’s self, withdrawing from one’s own egotism.
Love is the path to happiness, but the path of love is generosity and, in truth, the cross. Or we understand this or we have the wrong idea, sentimental and betraying of love. Because, in the end, he who loves the truth is he who cares for his aging parents or someone with a long-term illness and not he who kills with the excuse that it is to stop the continued suffering. He who truly loves is he who cares for his family and does not abandon it or destroy it because of egotism. He who truly loves is he who doesn’t lie, who doesn’t steal, who doesn’t kill, who gives to charity, who defends the truth and justice, he who works for peace.
Intention: Give up all which is not true love. Eliminate egotistical motives and behavior to find the happiness that Christ promises those who imitate him.