“The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.” — Pope Saint Gregory the Great

Earlier this week, this quote from Gregory the Great came across my twitter feed. (believe it or not, two years ago I could not have written this sentence) and it made me think about many things. What is love? Why are works of love so vital in our life? How are love and mercy linked together? All of these thoughts bounced together, with many others, as I considered my life and the world around us.

For me, love first and foremost is a work of obedience and sacrifice as we choose to serve something greater. When I was ordained a priest my act of love was in the vows that I chose to pray that morning before my bishop, family and the Church. It was in love that I entered into something greater than my priesthood and into the heart of the Most Holy Trinity where my choice to become less allowed the work of God to become more in my life and the life of the Church. Love is the surrender of my life to a greater love.

And this is where the works of love do great things. As St. Paul writes, “If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing“(1 Cor 13:3) or St. James “So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” (Jms 2:17) or Jesus even had a few things to say about the work of love “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.“ (Jn 13:34)

The works of love, the small and the great, sustain and feed the spirit and grow the vineyard of blessing. In my priesthood I have discovered this in the obedience to prayer, the hearing and contemplating the Word of God in Sacred Scripture and in adoration. But the works come into the fullness of joy when I chose to serve others in both the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. It is our baptismal call to love and be loved by turning towards and serving Jesus present in our brothers and sisters. It is the choice to offer it up to God always and everywhere in the good, the bad, the joys and the sufferings.

Which brings us to mercy. The Year of Mercy is fast approaching and it would be hopeless to seek mercy if we do not have faith, hope and love in our hearts flowing through our works. I discovered the fullness of depth of God’s love in mercy on my last visit with Fr. Alex Affonso before his death. It was when he asked my forgiveness for the challenges and difficulties we had as brother priests that I understood with the depth of the gift of mercy as shared love. It was the humbleness to allow the greater love of God’s mercy to be extended as I too asked for forgiveness and prayers. Mercy ultimately is seeing and acting with the eyes of love, the eyes of God, as we encounter our Lord Jesus in each other. It was at that moment that I knew what the women caught in adultery experienced,(Jn 8:1-11) what the criminal on the cross knew,(Lk 23:39-33) and what the disciples in the upper room rejoiced in as our Lord Jesus spoke those simple words. “Peace be with you.” (Jn20:20-22) Truly love is an ocean of mercy.

God Bless,

Fr. Mark

Ps. If you wish listen to  “Ocean of Mercy” by The Thirsting for a spiritual boost.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7kb9UcOp8Q