Extreme Love

Are we to be heroes?

We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.  How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help?  Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. - John 3:16-18

We label someone a hero if he lays down his life for another.  Is that what we are being called to do as Christians?

In today's Gospel reading, John reminds us that Jesus laid down his life for us out of love.  He tells us we should love one another and to show our love through action.

What greater sacrifice is there than to give up one's life for another?

When we put ourselves in Jesus' place, we realize his love for us is extreme, beyond reason and understanding.  We are not eager to imitate him in everything, are we?

So, if we are not willing to go to extremes, how far are we willing to go?

I think the point in today's message is to remember that there is no limit when love is the motivating force in our lives.  We will do what it takes to help those we love, and we should love one other without limits.

But can we love everyone, even those who don't love us back, or worse, those who hate us and want to harm us?

If we can we are putting our lives on the line, and that is extreme. 

The current measles outbreak is a perfect example of people stepping back from putting others first.  Out of fear, parents have kept their children from getting vaccinated, thinking it harmful. 

But in doing so, they put others at risk, including their children.  Is that extreme love?

They may think so, but I wonder what they will feel when their children get sick.

Now this is a really simple example, and maybe it doesn't get to the heart of what Jesus is talking about, but it does say something about us today. 

We tend to put ourselves first.  What others want and need come second, if they are considered at all.

Maybe we need to rethink that, for everyone's sake.  And if not for them, for God.

More to come...