Do This in Memory of Me: Love as I Have Loved You

By: Laura Catherine Worhacz

Dearest Eucharistic Family,
 
Finding God’s love brings purpose to our lives. Jesus’ love teaches us the value of sacrificing for the sake of others. Responsibly stewarding begins in our families, is offered to our loved ones, and then extended to our communities; love grows.
 
“Referring to the love of the heavenly Father for us, St. John says that this love was so great that he gave his only Son for our salvation. (cf. 1 Jn 4:10) How did our Lord prove his love? He loved us through the sufferings and humility of his life.” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard)
 
We know we are loving when we choose the heavier Cross and offer our days in service, whether it be tending to children’s needs, cooking, cleaning, working in an office, or as a craftsman, layperson, or religious, our days may be offered in sacrifice to all who call upon us.
 
“Given by the Father, he went even to Calvary; God the Father gave him to us because he loved us. Our Lord says: Love me as I have loved you. [Jn 13:34] The mere sight of him reveals his love for us: I took on human flesh; see the humility of my incarnation, the poverty of my life, all the different sacrifices I accepted out of love for you.” (Saint Peter Julian)
 
This past week, I had the blessing of talking with someone incarcerated for three years at the expense of selling drugs. This person is working now, not married, and trying to care for children. The description of going to bed hungry while in prison, fighting for one’s food, and looking over your shoulder every second to be ready to defend yourself sounded like hell to me. I listened and listened, then offered some guidance. I recommended to continue working and aided further to bring this soul to the Sacraments of our Catholic Church with the assurance God is with us in the mystery of our lives. It was an anointed conversation that I will be praying for. Providential! We need one another to love as Jesus has loved us, catching the tears of our brethren.
 
The one thing that keeps rising in my prayer is our time here on earth and the opportunity we have to choose the greater, the divine life. We will be accountable for our actions on that special day when we meet the mercy of God. This earthly pilgrimage is our “doing time”.
 
It’s real to the fact we will be meeting our Savior, and when we have that moment to look into Jesus’ face, what will we see? Will we see our Fear of the Lord in God’s gift of the Holy Spirit? A fear of not loving enough?
 
Jesus often went to a deserted place to pray. He glorified Our Father in Heaven by offering his life, his will. Our prayer, taking us to the quiet of our hearts, will keep us in the unfolding of our own death and rising through the days of our lie.
 
“When Jesus heard of it, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.” (Matthew 14:13)
 
We follow!
 
Mary suffered beyond our human comprehension could ever imagine, yet her prayer allows her to continue to serve us as the Mother of God and our mother. Mary’s love for us consoles her pain for the sins that Crucify her Son. Our Lady, Mother of Sorrows and of the Blessed Sacrament, is our guide to loving as we have been loved. Mary takes us into her home where we are beloved, beheld, and taught how to endure the Cross.
 
“Nobody can have greater love. I want to give my life for you. Calvary, Nazareth, Bethlehem are all sacrifices.” (Saint Peter Julian)
 
We will see the glory of God’s love through our lives. This world is passing away; what will remain is the love we share, the time we offer to one another, listening, and loving. The compassion of Christ has been given to us in his life-giving sacrifice of the Cross. May we do the same for all whom we meet; may they see CHRIST IN US, loving and forgiving.  
 
 “When St. Paul wants to give a proof of our Lord’s love, he says: he died for me, therefore he loved me. (cf. Ga 2:20) That was the proof. My good Daughters, we cannot consider the incarnation without saying: God was so good, how he loved me!” (Saint Peter Julian Eymard September 17, 1862)
 
“The Church will enter the glory of the kingdom only through this final Passover…” (CCC, 677)

Laura Catherine Worhacz

​Laura Catherine Worhacz is a Lay Associate of the Blessed Sacrament and author of Consecration to Jesus Through Our Lady of The Blessed Sacrament. She is also the Director of Mothers of The Blessed Sacrament. She lives in Trinity, FL with her husband and their two daughters.