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	"AFTER" LOVE

The Gospel

MATTHEW 20:29-34

As they left Jericho, a great crowd followed Jesus. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!” The crowd warned them to be silent, but they called out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have pity on us!” Jesus stopped and called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They answered him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” Moved with pity, Jesus touched their eyes. Immediately, they received their sight, and followed him.

The Media

"Accidentally in Love"

Counting Crows

The group Counting Crows addresses in song the topic of whether or not one is in love. “Maybe I’m in love,” they sing, “can’t stop thinking about it. How much longer will it take to cure this, cause I can’t ignore it if it’s love. Come on, turn a little faster, come on, the world will follow after, come on, everybody’s after love.” Their message is that everyone wants the feeling of love.

In the song “Accidentally in Love,” the group Counting Crows says “Everybody’s after love.” That love, of course, in the context of the song, is a “romantic love,” as love is understood in most songs of our day, but it is a true statement that whether we define love to be romantic love or not, everyone of us is “after love.” We want to be loved, we want to be cared for.

The argument can be made that every cry for help is a cry to be loved. Jesus heard the cry of the two blind men in Matthew’s Gospel in such a way. To him, they were people who were crying out to be recognized, to be loved by a society that had not loved them at all, a society that simply told them to be quiet, and accept their fate, and don’t bother anyone. Jesus looked at them with pity, with love, telling them that they were worth something. It is no wonder that the blind men enjoyed their newly found sight by following Jesus.

People are hurting in our world. It is clear from our media; it is clear from the people all around us. They may not be “blind” or diseased, but in truth, everyone is truly “after love.” We want to be loved, we want to be cared for. As Christians, we learn to cry out to the Lord for help, and we believe that he will hear us. But also as Christians, we learn that we must listen to the cry for help from others. We are called to do what we can in order to be the people who answer the cry for love.

THOUGHT

What is the most important thing that we can do for another?

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we are people who desire love. We want to be appreciated. We feel privileged to have your love. But we also know that we must be people who love others. Help us be people who try to love. Be with us, we pray.

Questions, comments? Let me know. Email Fr. Mike