Ripples of Love (Thursday, Week 24, Year 2)

The Corinthian Christian community to which St Paul wrote seemed to have been inundated by a number of problems/issues ranging from moral to doctrinal. Now, in the 15th chapter of that letter (a portion of which we read this morning), St Paul appears to be resolving what might have appeared to be a doctrinal problem (a problem bordering on belief) in the Corinthian community: and that was the belief in resurrection. The Greek had a belief which more or less dismissed the Christian belief in resurrection. They believed that there are two principles that permeate life and existence: the dualism of good and evil. The soul/spirit is good and the body/matter is evil. In fact, anything SPIRITUAL is good; and anything MATERIAL is evil. It was then very difficult for a people with such a belief to be convinced that this body which is evil will experience the resurrection and be glorified. And it appears some Christians in that Greek city might have been swayed by this distorted belief. 

In trying to counter such belief, Paul resorts to proofs from the scriptures about resurrection: the appearances of Jesus to some apostles and many other disciples and to himself. Now, what is of great interest to me is not so much the issue being talked about but the vehemence and passion with which Paul made his case. Remember that he was talking to a people who have been swayed by or have had a particular belief for so many years, and he was so much bent on making his points not minding whether those points will make sense to them or not. This is the attitude of someone who has been touched by the gospel message of love. We quickly remember how it all began with regard to Paul: how he vehemently persecuted the Church and masterminded the killing of Stephen the first Christian martyr. But when he encountered Jesus, he did not receive the pronouncement of condemnation. Rather, he received the pronouncement of love: you have become a chosen instrument of mine. In response to that love, St Paul set forth proclaiming the good news and moving hearts to believe in the gospel message of love and hope. We hear him specially mention it in today’s reading that he preached and the Corinthians so believed. 

In the gospel, we see a woman who was lavishly loved by Jesus lavishly responding to the love she has received. She did not care what the world would say considering her former condition as a prostitute. Her heart was moved to love in return, and she couldn’t resist that force. There is something about love which we can’t deny. A practical demonstration of love (real love) has the power to set hearts on fire. It has the power to create well patterned ripples of its kind. Someone who has been shown love is in a better position to understand what it means to love and he or she cannot but respond in loving action because love begets love, love has the power to create ripples in hearts.

We can’t deny the love of God, the practical love of God towards each of us. Things may not be moving as we want but everything is being patterned by God for our good. We sleep and wake up, thanks to God’s love. There are numerous proofs of His great love for us. Having been soaked in God’s love, we are called to keep on creating ripples of that love in the world. Let’s continue to pass it on. Practical Christian love is like a drop of water which creates ripples upon its contact with a water surface. A kind word, a reassuring smile and a loving gesture can change countless lives. Let us take it as a project every day to keep on creating ripples of love.