May 02, 2010

“Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit”.
      Before becoming a Jesuit, I worked as a database programmer. I was
given the opportunity to train my replacement. Apparently, I was a
demanding instructor. All morning, I drilled my student. After lunch, he
timidly returned with tears in his eyes. He told me he felt that he was
qualified. Perhaps he should quit so I could find someone more qualified.
I looked him squarely in the eye and said “Sit down, failure is not an
option”. I knew he was not an experienced programmer, but I was willing
to take a chance. I knew his limitations but more importantly I saw his
potential.
      As we continue to celebrate Easter, it is important to take a step back
to see the big picture. We only get to Easter through the cross. Jesus' love
for us leads him to the cross, through death to the resurrection, and then
from the resurrection to His ascension and then the sending of the Holy
Spirit. The way that Jesus is to be seen and known in the world is
changing. When Jesus commands us to love one another, he is ultimately
inviting us, his followers, to the challenging task of becoming the
Eucharist for the world.
      Jesus is not naïve. He knows his followers well. He knows that Peter
often gets ahead of himself and says foolish things. He knows that often
his followers do not fully understand his message. He knows that Judas
has other plans about the type of Messiah Jesus is to be. Jesus knows that
his followers suffer from ignorance, that they lack courage, and in one
way or another are likely to betray him and his message. And yet, Jesus
remains firm in his commitment to love his followers and his decision to
entrust his mission to us Jesus is willing to risk loving us.
      Jesus loves us not because we are smart, good looking or successful.
Jesus knows our human limitations, our weaknesses, and the ways that
we are likely to betray him and those closest to us. Jesus loves us anyway.
That love ultimately leads to the cross.
      Jesus asks us to live our lives according to this love – a love that is
willing to endure the cross, not for its own sake, but for the new life that
comes through it. A word of caution, loving as Jesus loves is not a matter
of passively putting up with abuse, instead it is actively working at
supporting authentic transformation so that Jesus' glory may be made
known. As his followers, we are to love others as Jesus has loved us.
Such a love is willing to take risks, it is willing to endure the cross
because it sees beyond the cross to the resurrection and to Jesus' glory. As
we celebrate Flores de Mayo, we look to Mary to show us, as she showed
Jesus, how to love with a love that endures the pains of childbirth, the
crucifixion and holding Jesus' lifeless body. Mary stands out in her
example as one who loves with her whole being.
      Like Jesus, our love of others is not naive. Some people are difficult
to love. Like Jesus, we know that we will likely be hurt by those closest
to us. Like Jesus, we know that at times we will be misunderstood. Like
Jesus, we know that our trust and confidence will be betrayed. And yet,
like Jesus we dare to love as He loves. The world encounters Jesus by the
way we love one another.
      Written on the wall in a home for children founded by Mother
Teresa are these words: “People are often unreasonable, irrational, and
self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse
you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful,
you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed
anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest
and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy
overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may
be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be
forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be
enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you
and God. It was never between you and them anyway”.
      To this, I hear Jesus adding, “If you love others, they may
misinterpret, reject, or betray you. Love anyway”! As followers of Jesus,
our love of Him and of one another does not allow us the luxury of
quitting. Despite shortcomings, Jesus does not quit loving his followers.
So too, we refuse to quit loving in the midst of adversity or challenges.
Jesus tells us to make His glorious presence known in the world by loving
one another. This is our mission. “Failure is not an option”.