Pursuing Love

Today is the feast of St Jose Marie Escriva, founder of Opus Dei. He has inspired my husband and I in countless ways to pursue God in our ordinary life, to try to make our ordinary moments better, even holy. His words remind us to seek for the noble, the good, the lasting happiness that is found in true love. We can look for more even when surrounded by 1000 broken cheerios, mounds of laundry, swearing surgeons, and corrupt politics. When people, situations, and circumstances disappoint us, there is a way that never does. He reminds us to always look to the cross (despite our poor example and weakness) as the example of love poured out, withholding nothing. The cross changed everything, and heaven stands open, because of such love.

In a world which garishly promotes selfish indulgence as a tool in the journey to happiness, the way of virtue quietly stands calling. The road less taken, yet well worth the sacrifice. In a time when distorted vanity and narcissism seem to rule the day, the way of love still quietly calls. When the call to be more real, more true, more whole is stronger than the lure to temporary pleasure and self interest, than love is taking root. Love hurts more, it takes longer, it takes all we have, and even more. It empties us of us, so we can pass on that which is greater than us. Love is everything, and one only has to see the absence of it, so prevalent in the counterfeits today, to be content with a simple life poured out, fatigued, and spent in the service of Him who is love. He brings joy to our broken moments, so prevalent as busy parents, which we have given to Him. Thank you Jose Marie for reminding us, that even this ordinary family life can be a winding road to the kingdom of love, and the place of joy. Youth and beauty will fade, health will only last so long, and money buys only so much. We are meant for that which does not end. We do our best to care for passing things, and be good stewards of the temporary. But love, timeless and untainted is worth pursuing as the final prize. Love will not disappoint. Jose Marie, pray for us!


What no-one can take from us

If you are really going to love, you have to be strong and loyal; your heart has to be firmly anchored in faith, hope and charity. Only people who are inconstant and superficial change the object of their love from one day to the next: that’s not love at all, it’s the pursuit of selfishness. When love exists there is a kind of wholeness – a capacity for self-giving, sacrifice and renunciation. In the midst of that self-denial, along with painful difficulties, we find joy and happiness, a joy which nothing and no one can take away from us.
St Jose Marie Escriva, Christ is Passing