The Meaning of Love.

PITIK-BULAG: The Meaning of Love.

No parents will allow their children to leave home with an empty stomach. They don’t want their loved ones to get hungry along the way. That’s a bare but basic definition of genuine love. To love is to feed, and to feed is to love.

This is basically what our gospel today is telling us. When Jesus realized that the crowd who followed him was hungry, he said, “I feel sorry for all these people; they have been with me for three days now and have nothing to eat. If I send them off home hungry they will collapse on the way. (Mark 8:2)”

It was clear to all that they need to feed themselves. They should provide food for themselves. But Jesus saw otherwise. To see the crowd hungry and helpless was too much for him to bear. He knew he cannot ignore his heart’s desire. He should do something. HE DID NOT WANT TO SEND THEM OFF HUNGRY, FOR THEY MIGHT COLLAPSE ALONG THE WAY. And so, he made a miracle and feed all of them. This is basically the essence of loving. To feed is to love, and to love is to feed.

Many of us are hungry for many things. Not only of good and nutritious food but WE ARE HUNGRY OF GOOD AND NUTRITIOUS LOVE. We are hungry for attention and care. We are hungry for each other’s quality time and listening ears. We are hungry for forgiveness, understanding, and acceptance. Like Jesus, if we are really in love, we cannot afford to see someone hungry in his life’s journey. We should feed them. For we don’t want them to collapse along the way.

As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, it’s good to pause for a while and ask ourselves – DO I REALLY KNOW THE MEANING OF LOVE? In the midst of our present crisis, could we embrace the words of Jesus as ours? – “I FEEL SORRY FOR THESE PEOPLE. THEY ARE BEGGING FOR JUSTICE, TRUTH AND PEACE. I CANNOT JUST LEAVE THEM ALONE. I NEED TO FEED THEM WITH MY MERCY AND COMPASSION. FOR I DON’T WANT THEM TO COLLAPSE ON THE WAY.”

If you can say these words, you know the meaning of genuine love.

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Don’t just say it with flowers, chocolates, and sweet words. For flowers will just fade away and all those sweet things will not last. Feed your loved ones with your happy presence. Feed them with your compassion, mercy, and understanding. They are affordable and doable. And these things will stay in their hearts forever.

– Pitik-Bulag

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February 13, 2021 – Saturday
Gospel Reading: Mark 8: 1-10

Reflection:
1. How are you going to express your love to your loved ones today?
2. This year is the Year of the Poor. Do they have a part in your heart?
3. Are you a lover of truth, justice, and peace? Is your love for these things unwavering, undying, and unconditional? Why?