James Dodaro: "How Well Do We Love?"

I sat down today to reflect on Pope’s Benedict’s homily that he gave at the opening of the synod on the Eucharist. Pope Benedict returns to an image that he has used several times early in his homily. He states that in the Eucharist Jesus comes to meet us and then asks “Will He find a response?” I think this is a great question. The statistics show that the majority of Catholics do not come to Mass on a weekly basis. I am sure that there are a number of reasons for this, but at the heart is an inability to love correctly. Pope Benedict states in the homily that this inability to love properly stems from sin, that is that we want to be the sole owners of ourselves and that we want to use this world and ourselves in an unlimited manner.

I can think of a number of times when I have done things for family and friends to demonstrate my love. I also know that there are a number of times when I have not done what family and friends have needed me to do in love and unfortunately I remember how justified I felt in my decision. Those times that I felt justified were terrible times of sin. When we are truly in love, we don’t even think about the labor and burden involved in the relationship, when we are feeling self righteous, then labor and burden become an easy excuse to be lazy. What I need to remind myself often is that I am responsible for loving God. And I like to reflect often on John 16:33 where Jesus states, “But have confidence. I have overcome the world.” Which is the same point that Pope Benedict makes near the end of the homily. God does not fail us and God does the work of redemption. The task for us is to respond to God, who has done the work to make redemption possible. We need to be present when God comes to us. The Eucharist is where God comes to us to make us like Him. We show God great love when we show up. When we drop love of ourselves for love of God, then we discover that are humanity is lifted up, and our sinful desires are seen as being petty. Being in love takes effort and thankfully God gives of Himself in the Eucharist and in grace, to assist in this effort. The Eucharist is the font from which holiness is a possibility.