Where there is sacrifice, there is love.
It’s easy for us to think that if we are sacrificing ourselves for another person, we are loving them. Denying ourselves of what we want and doing things for others is a good thing. However, I’ve learned that there is a higher calling to love.
Jesus died for our sins because He loved us. As difficult as it was, He died for us because He wanted to. He experienced moments of human weakness during His passion yet He continued to find strength to love us to death because He had a desire to love us. Imagine if He died for us without a heart to love us? Will His death have the same impact on our lives?
We are called to love others not just because we ought to but also because we want to. When we don’t have a desire to love someone, then we are just loving because we have to. True love is free, total, faithful and fruitful. The moment we love out of obligation, it is no longer freely given. We are no longer loving with our entire self.
If we are ever in a situation where we are called to love but do not feel 100% propelled to do it, let us ask the Lord to change our hearts to His so that we can sacrificially love with a joyful and free heart.
Lord, change our hearts to be like Yours. May we love propelled by Your compassion, mercy and joy alone. Amen!