Love Never Fails

By: Ivonne Hernandez

“The best means for acquiring the meekness of the Heart of Jesus is the love of our Lord. Love always tends to effect identity of life between those who love each other. Love will make use of three means to achieve this result. Love will first put out the flaming fires of anger, impatience: and violence by warring against self-love, which is manifested in the three concupiscences of the heart. We feel provoked because some obstacle checks our sensuality, our pride, and our desire to cut a figure or to receive honors. To fight against these three ruling passions is to attack the enemies of meekness. We must next learn to have more zeal for what is to be done in the order of Divine Providence than for what we are actually doing. For if we are vexed, we are so because we are taken away from an occupation which we prefer to the one God would have us do. If we are much like Jesus, we will leave everything to obey God's will. Whatever we are asked to do will be, in our estimation, the best and most pleasant thing for us. Such a transformation can be brought about in us only if, out of love, we give our preference to what the will of God has decreed for every moment of our life; for God constantly varies our graces and our duties for His glory and our greater good.” [1] - St. Peter Julian Eymard


Meditation:

How often are we annoyed, frustrated, or worried at some situation? When I read the words above from St. Peter Julian, I thought of the many hours I have spent angry or frustrated, and then the many hours I spent trying to deal with those feelings. They really add up and leave me exhausted. I've often wondered if there is a better way.

“For if we are vexed, we are so because we are taken away from an occupation which we prefer to the one God would have us do.” There are days that I have the Grace to accept God’s will in my life and things flow smoothly. This is usually true when things completely outside anyone’s control change my plans. I can see that it must be God’s will and I trust and move on. Then there are the rest of the days, the days where things other people did or did not do affect my plans. Now this is a different story. I have someone to blame. The more I focus on why other people’s failings are now my problem, the more my frustration and anger grow. But St. Peter Julian is reminding me here that instead of looking at the splinter in my neighbor’s eye, I should focus on the big beam of pride in mine.

There is a battle raging inside each of us. A battle between love, and its enemy, self-love. Thankfully we have a God who loves us so much He will not let go. He will wrestle with us until we are so exhausted, we will finally surrender to His love. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.” (Matthew 11:29)



[1] Eymard, St Peter Julian. The Real Presence (pp. 223-224). Veritatis Splendor Publications. Kindle Edition.