Christian Love - Without Expecting Return

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me?

To a child their whole world is the mommy and daddy.  From their earliest moments of consciousness they see these people who care for them and give them shelter, nourishment, protection and life.  There is a day in the life of each person where they realize this debt.  Part of loving them in return is what is called filial piety, or giving them what is their due, to honor our father and mother.  They are an icon of the eternal and infinite providence of our loving Father.  The readings of Mass for today show us that we will never be able to repay God for his goodness and that loving our neighbor is a means of justly giving back to God what he has given us.

Listen to my homily for today:

If you have trouble listening click here.

The world teaches us the error that we love only those who love us, give to those who give to us and proportionately, that we forgive only if someone forgives.  This is not the way we love.  A follower of Christ MUST absolutely break out of this error.  If not the only way he will get out of it will be in the fires of purgatory.  This worldly way of loving is a very deep obstacle to sanctity and to authentic peace of heart.  We must wage a holy war against ourselves in this respect.  Prayer, frequent reception of the Sacraments, and placing ourselves in the line of God's gratuitous and undeserved charity, is the way to over come this obstacle eternally.

May Our Lady, whose Immaculate Heart is a white hot furnace of holy charity, help us to love as Christ loves, not expecting anything in return.  Loving others not because they are worthy, but loving them that they may become more worthy.