We are Born to Love

05-14-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Bing Colasito

The Gospel this Sunday fills my mind with many thoughts, generally about my life and how this life should reflect the will of the Creator; by imitating our Lord, Jesus Christ. But I also see the many connections in my life: 1.) To Motherhood (Mother’s Day), 2.) The Incarnation of Jesus, 3.) His call to love and unity, 4.) His promise to remain with us through the Holy Spirit, and 5.) His Ascension.

God so loved the world that He gave us His only begotten Son. All life begins in the womb of a woman. When God sent His Son, He sent the Archangel Gabriel to a simple handmaid, announcing that she would conceive the Son of God in her womb. I and all of us began life inside the womb of a woman. For this reason, being a mother is a great honor and blessing. Like God’s love, we were all born because our parents loved one another.

The Mystery of the Incarnation stands out as a testimony that love longs for unity with the beloved. The unity of the two natures of Jesus is explained in the hypostatic union of His divinity and humanity; He is both fully God and fully human. Just as in every human person, there is the union of a father and mother. In Jesus, we find two complete and distinct natures as one just as my parents are one. I am a reflection of my Dad (Jose); and my Mom (Sonia). Every time I look in the mirror, I see the eyes and nose of Sonia; and the rest of my face a reflection of Jose. Soon I will have all grey hair, a distinct feature of the Colasito clan, a receding hairline, and baldness on the crown, which comes from the mother's side. All these and many other semblances, traits, and characteristics because I am the fruit of the love of Dad and Mom.

Only love can make this unity possible. The love of God brought about the union of divinity and humanity of Jesus together in one perfect oneness. The love of a man and a woman creates another human being who is the unity of a father and mother. And the two shall become one flesh. So, they are no longer two but one flesh (Mt. 10:8).

Unity and oneness are impossible without love. No wonder Jesus keeps bringing this message of love to the hearts of His disciples and all who profess to follow Him through their love for one another. Because only through the eyes of love would we understand the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit (Trinity), just as it will be through the commandment of love that the Holy Trinity would abide in a disciple’s heart.

We are born to live. We are born to love. All of us must strive daily to live to the fullest. St. Irenaeus’ famous quote: The glory of God is man fully alive. Jesus calls us to love as He loved. As we celebrate Mother’s Day, love the same way Jesus loved the Blessed Mother. But also celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation, the love of God for us. He is the abiding presence of God in us and the Holy Spirit’s gift to us and the Church.