love is in the giving

24 april 2016
5th sun of easter

john 13:34 "i give you a new commandment: love one another; just as i have loved you, you must love one another."

homily of fr boni chavez, our new parish priest:

story 1:

he said he read this somewhere: a young boy, admiring a plush car, told the owner his admiration. owner: "it was given to me by my elder brother last christmas." boy: instead of saying "i wish i had a generous elder brother like you," said "i wish i could be like your elder brother so i can give the same to my younger brother." (the take away for me: don't begrudge your elder brother's reselling of the toyota 1999 car to your sister-in-law).

story 2:

(i've heard this several times from homilies, but it's worth repeating)

a cow, hen & pig were debating on who is the most useful of them:

cow: "i'm the most useful animal because i have to eat enough grass and drink enough water to be able to produce fresh milk for people to drink for breakfast."

hen: "i'm the most useful animal because i have to keep fit and healthy and well-rested to be able to lay down eggs daily for people to eat breakfast."

pig: (quiet, on the side; had to be asked by the cow & hen to participate) "oh, i'm the most useful animal because for people to have bacon on their breakfast table, i have to DIE!"

lesson: that's TOTAL COMMITMENT. 

that's what god is asking of us. there is a big difference between divine and human love. it is divine love that is the ARCHETYPE that he wants everyone to follow. another word for it is "UNCONDITIONAL LOVE."

in rogerian counseling, that is what we provide the client. 

no wonder, as the lay preacher said, "love is the most powerful healing power."