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	THE EFFORT IN LOVING

The Gospel

LUKE 6:30-36

Jesus said, "Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what is yours do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you. For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount. But rather, love your enemies and do good to them, and lend expecting nothing back; then your reward will be great and you will be children of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful."

The Media -- "Just Give Me a Reason" (Pink f/ Nate Ruess)

"Right from the start, you were a thief. You stole my heart and I, your willing victim, let you see the parts of me that weren’t very pretty, and with every touch, you fixed them. Now, you’ve been talking in your sleep, things you never say to me tell me that you’ve had enough of our love. Just give me a reason, just a little bit’s enough, just a second: we’re not broken, just bent. And we can learn to love again. It’s in the stars.”

The lady in Pink and Nate Ruess' song "Just Give Me a Reason" has discovered something that she should not know. First of all, she had revealed her deepest secrets to the person. Then, talking in his sleep, her friend has given away the fact that that he may not love her any more. Acting from the belief that their relationship was not broken, but only bent, she chooses to love again. She chooses to do it because it is her belief that it must happen the way she wants.

One thing is for certain if she chooses to love again: it will take effort. If two people want romantic love to develop between them, especially if there have been doubts as in the song, they will have to work at it. It definitely will require all their effort.

It is not unlike the "love" directive that Jesus gave in the Gospels. If people want what Jesus suggests, it will require effort, and consistent effort. In fact, many people think that Jesus' words of constant "giving" and "loving enemies" and always "being kind" and "merciful" are much too difficult for normal living. In many cases, Christians say that they are following the Lord, and in reality they are not, simply because they will not follow the demanding "love" commandments of Jesus.

Romantic love is never easy. In order to build a romantic love relationship, people really must work at it. The Christian who wants to follow what Jesus said about love in general can learn a lesson from people struggling to build romantic love. If one wants to follow Jesus' desire for love in the world, it will involve work. Learning to love, both romantic and otherwise, requires all of our effort.

PRAYER
Good and gracious God, your Son gave us your command to love. Just as people struggling to make their romantic love real, we must work at developing the love you desire. Give us the grace to learn to love. Be with us, we pray.

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GUIDE FOR CLASSROOM PRESENTATION AND PERSONAL ENRICHMENT

Theme: Learning to love, both romantic and otherwise, requires all of our effort.

DISCUSSION QUESTION:
1. The radical love that Jesus teaches is presented clearly and emphatically in these verses of the Gospel. In your opinion, do most Christians follow this radical love completely? Yes or no and why?
2. There is no Old Testament commandment to "hate" enemies, but the "love of neighbor" is understood to be love of fellow countrymen. Jesus takes it further. In general, in our Christian world, do we teach love of enemies? Yes or no and why?
3. Give your definition of "mercy." Where do we need it most in our world?
4. Text analysis: "The parts of me that weren't very pretty." What is the meaning of the phrase?
5. How does one "fix" parts of another that are not "very pretty"?
6. The lady in the song learns what the other feels because the other talks in his sleep. Why do couples in a love relationship not tell the truth directly to each other?
7. Text analysis: "We're not broken, just bent." What is the meaning of the sentence?
8. Text analysis: "It's in the stars." What is the meaning of the sentence?
9. Obviously, the person in the song may be very disappointed if the other in the relationship does not want to pursue the relationship. What is the "Christian" way to handle "rejection" from another?
10. Why do most counselors suggest that sharing "deep secrets" is dangerous for the couple?
11. Why do many people feel that constant "giving," "loving enemies," always "being kind" and "merciful" are too difficult in today's world?
12. The meditation says directly that "many Christians" do not follow Jesus' "love" commandment. Do you agree? Yes or no and why?
13. What does the song “Just Give Me a Reason” teach young people?

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