When Rev. Dennis Espiritu, Vocation Director for the St. Vincent de Paul College Seminary and one of my most respected priest-friends, requested me to take over his class while he was on his U.S. trip, I was euphoric. I always find extreme fulfillment in chances/opportunities to contribute in shaping or redirecting the minds especially of the young. SALAMAT PO URAURA, PADRE!
Part of the introductory basics I often utilize, not only as part of rapport-establishment but more as diagnostic “ek-ek” (calling it a “test” is a stressor), is my informal “chit-chat” with the students. True to my expectation, because it has always been in any adolescent or young adults’ classes I had, the most bothersome dilemma these kids are facing is about LOVE. I am always happy with such a finding since, to me, this is a manifestation of honesty/sincerity which is a very good indication of the students’ willingness to learn. This gives me the excitement on the prospects that we can greatly learn from one another.
The following, then, is my theoretical explanation to WHAT LOVE IS (I pray you can closely follow through and get to understand me, especially if you are in the same situation). First, let me get you back again to one of our papers’ past issues where I mentioned about our three (3) natures, as a human being, namely: animal nature; human nature; and divine nature.
Love is defined as a “FLESH thing” in our animal nature. It is so because what cause us to love are our senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch). In our human nature, love is defined as a “ROMANTIC thing”. Our basic drive is either our emotions/feelings (especially for the right-brained people) or whatever motive/end (mostly for those who are left-brained) there is. Thus, this love is primarily composed of expectations such as reciprocation and the like. Because of our brokenness, which has been overlooked for so long, our human love becomes either demanding or depleting, or both, as time goes on. This makes love and loving difficult. It is even made more difficult by our seven (7) capital sins. Clearly then, both our animal and human natures are the main reasons why we are LOST IN LOVE.
Our ONLY REDEEMING FACTOR is our Divine nature, for it is the fulfillment of Jesus Christ’s promise: to be in each and every one of us! Love in our divine nature is defined as an “UNCONDITIONAL thing”. It does not need anything. When a person has already reached his/her level of divinity, he/she is already capable of loving no matter! No conditions set, no limits. No if’s, no but’s. His/Her love is universal. It knows no bounds. Its appropriate definition of love is that of Antoine De Saint-Exupery’s (The Little Prince) which says: LOVE DOES NOT CONSISTS IN GAZING AT EACH OTHER; IT IS IN LOOKING TOWARD THE SAME DIRECTION.
Love in its truest sense means PURITY. Purity happens in our divine nature alone. Unless we align our way of life (beginning with our thoughts) by way of hard, persistent prayers and hard work (through constant self-discipline) we can never get there. Our determination to do these consistently will lead us slowly, but surely, to divine love and loving. Strive hard because it is the only way to find “heaven on earth”.
We really have much to realize when it comes to this “little” (?) thing called LOVE. Or we go crazy! The checklist for a divine love can be found in 1Corinthians 13:4-7 of our Holy Bible. I hope you will find the time to read it so you can check yourselves out, dearest friends, for you to realize just where you are situated at the moment. Pray for
God’s grace and mercy, for you to take off, properly, and finally reach where you are actually headed – according to His plans for you.
My love and prayers… God bless…!
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