Feast of Saint Ezekiel Moreno y Diaz

Good morning. The message in today’s Gospel is no short order. Jesus indicates that we are to love one another as we love ourselves. This is not easy. What makes it even more of a challenge is that what He is asking of us is so misunderstood by most people. Most folks, if one were to ask about love, would suggest that it is a feeling, and they would perhaps follow that up with some Disney story notion of it being something that happens to us. It is neither a feeling, nor is it something that happens to us. There is no pixie dust, no pumpkins turning into carriages, nor riding into the sunset. What it is, is making the choice to give of our self when our other is being snarly, and we keep giving and giving and giving. What it is, is seeing the beauty in our other, when they aren’t at their best, or when the years have taken their toll. What it is, is doing for the other far beyond anything we get in return. Giving of ourselves, giving until it hurts and sometimes beyond what we think we have to give is what we are called to do, not only in marriage but in all of our relationships. Yet, it is exactly in this giving where we get the return, for whatever you give you receive in return. Paul Wink, a professor and researcher with Wellesley College found that giving can be good for us; those who tend to give are less inclined to become depressed. For a clearer understanding of this thing called love allow me to direct you to the writings of Peter Kreeft on this topic. As in the words from the Prayer of Saint Francis, “it is in giving that we receive.” Make a great day!

Today we recall the good life, gifts, and works of Saint Ezekiel Moreno y Diaz.

It is in giving that we receive