Gratitious Love

     “Since all our love for God is ultimately a response to His love for us, we can never love Him in the same way He loves us, namely, gratuitously. But we can love our neighbor in the same way that He loves us -- gratuitously – not because of anything the neighbor has done for us or because of anything we owe him, but simply because love has been freely given to us by God.”                                         Ralph Martin


 
     God calls us to love one another as He loves us – totally and freely. We are to let go of expectations of “getting something back” for our efforts, while at the same time, not counting the cost. Naturally speaking, this is impossible! Even on our good days, there is a small part of us that does expect to gain something: love, recognition, a feeling of satisfaction and most probably, gratitude from the recipient.

One of His Favorites

     “Yes, my heart’s dear one, Jesus is here with His Cross. Since you are one of His favorites, He wants to make you into His likeness; why be afraid that you will not have the strength to carry this cross without a struggle? On the way to Calvary, Jesus did indeed fall three times and you, poor child, would like to be different from your Spouse? Would you rather not fall a hundred times if necessary to prove your love to Him by getting back up with even more strength than before your fall!                                                                                                                                                 St. Therese of Lisieux



     Being one of our dear sweet Jesus’ favorites, He wants to make you into His very likeness: carrying your cross is part of the package. The cross is the instrument that was used by our Lord to bring about our salvation. When we accept our cross, it will transform our suffering and be a means of elevating and sanctifying our souls.