Peter began to say to [Jesus], "We have given up everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters of mother or father or children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come."  

"The sun goes down, the stars come out, and all that counts is here and now. My universe will never be the same, I’m glad you came. You cast a spell on me, you hit me like the sky fell on me, and I decided you look well on me, so let’s go somewhere no one else can see, you and me. Turn the lights out now, I'll take you by the hand. Time is slipping away from us, so stay. Stay with me: I can make you glad you came." 

The man in The Wanted's song "Glad You Came" is overcome with joy at his fiancee's presence in his life. He feels great about life being so good. The sun has set, the evening has begun, "and all that counts," he says, "is the here and now." He goes on to say that he is so happy that she came. The good feelings of love can be an overpowering factor in our love relationships. But, the person who has such good feelings must be equally aware that love and good feelings are more than the "here and now." In the song, there is some reason why his fiancee is not staying, and perhaps the reason has something to do with her knowledge that love is more than the good feelings of the moment. With the feelings of love there come the responsibilities of love which demand actions that go beyond selfish enjoyment.

Jesus said the same thing to his Apostles in their lives. Overcome with joy at what their master Jesus might give to them, Peter wanted to know what they would receive as a result of their following of Jesus. Jesus replied that they would indeed receive rewards here and hereafter, but he added the truth that such rewards would come "with persecutions." In effect, Jesus was saying that they would have the rewards connected with the love they had for Jesus, but the love would bring about some problems as well. Love is not only a good feeling; it will cost a little also.

There is a very important lesson here, and many people who feel the happy emotions of love may miss it. Often we feel so good about the "moment," the "here and now" of a love situation that we forget about the effort necessary to make such a love more permanent. There are certainly good feelings connected with love. We would not enter into it if there were not. But as Jesus pointed out to his Apostles, as the lady in The Wanted's song knows, there is more to love than good feelings. We have to be prepared to make the effort that goes beyond good feelings in order to make the love what it should be.

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, we feel good about the love you have for us, the love we have for you, and the love we share with other human beings. Give us the grace to always work at making our love for you and the love of others more than strong emotions. Be with us, we pray. 

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

©2007 Capuchin Province of Mid-America
Fr. Mike Scully is a member of the Capuchin Province of Mid-America