Those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and elders were assembled. ...The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin kept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesus in order to put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two came forward who stated, "This man said, 'I can destroy the temple of God and within three days rebuild it.'" The high priest rose and addressed him, "Have you no answer? What are these men testifying against you?" But Jesus was silent.

The man in the relationship begins: "Now as the summer fades, I let you slip away. You say I’m not your type, but I can make you sway. It makes you burn to learn you’re not the only one. I’d let you be if you put down your blazing gun." And the woman answers, "Now, you’ve gone somewhere else, far away. I don’t know if I will find you, but you feel my breath on your neck, can’t believe I’m right behind you." And they both sing, "'Cause you keep me coming back for more, and I feel a little better than I did before, and if I never see your face again, I don’t mind 'cause we gone much further than I thought we’d get tonight."     

The song "If I Never See Your Face Again" is about romantic love, and it presents a love between two people who are trying to understand the love that they have for each other. It is not an easy undertaking. It is not easy because it involves feelings, feelings from both people in the relationship, and feelings can be very confusing. The couple discovering romantic love must struggle to determine what "I love you" means for each of them.

The love of another that a Christian must show is just as difficult to act out. Christian love of others extends to everyone, even the people who are against the Christian in some way. Jesus before the high priest Caiaphas presents such a love quite clearly. In Matthew's Gospel, he remained silent to the false accusations presented against him out of love for the people for whom he was to die. His love for us dictated his behavior, even though it was very difficult.

Most of us choose marriage as a way of life. Because it is not easy to determine when romantic love exists, modern woman and man will always have to struggle with romantic love of another. Even if we choose another path to live here on earth, we will have to work with "love feelings" in some way.

But the Christian will never have to struggle with whether we should show Christian love to one another. Such a decision is easy to know--Christians must show love to all, concern and care for everyone whether it is someone for whom we have deep feelings or a person who has shown hatred toward us or a person whom we have never met. The task comes in carrying out the Christian decision--in that sense, love is never easy because it involves a commitment to love everyone, a commitment that can never be altered, no matter what the circumstances.      

THOUGHT

PRAYER

Good and gracious God, your Son showed His love for us by His passion and death, giving us an example to follow. But because of our human natures, we have difficulty with being the loving Christian people that we should be. Give us the grace to imitate your Son's love for all. 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