Who wins?

I had been in the waiting room for two hours before I met her. I arrived early for a routine type of test that I learned took four hours and I was feeling annoyed. My back was aching and there were no comfortable seats in the designated waiting room. By the time we started chatting, I was sure that I would come off as a gruff and rude person. But her demeanor was bright and refreshing. It altered my angry heart almost instantly. We talked about everything from large extended families to big meals on Sunday to the importance of faith and even politics. She was a person who exuded sheer goodness and love – very much like my beloved late mother. When I left the hospital several hours later, I felt better off than when I had arrived. It was due to this woman’s kindness – her heart extended in love to a stranger. I was grateful.

 Early in his ministry, St. Paul wrote to a struggling church in Corinth, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” (1 Cor 13:2) Paul was writing to a diverse group of people who were laboring to find consensus in daily living thus unable to live in peace and goodwill, not unlike many communities in our country today. His advice to this new group of Christians could have included many practical things, but he trusted that only one truth was needed – love. Paul knew that if this community didn’t have love for one another, then any other advice he gave them would be in vain. His letter went on to include more encouragement in God’s truth, “Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.(1 Cor 13:8)

It is easy to love those who love us back. But it takes a great deal more effort to love those with whom we disagree. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us, “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (MT 5:45) Who are our enemies? I think it’s worth contemplating this question at this specific time in history. Sadly, I’ve see too many people treat one another as enemies due to political differences of opinion. This, of course, leads to divisions in precious relationships and eventually permanent separation – and for what? We can and should do better and love paves the only way forward.

The God who loved the world into existence is always willing our good in unexpected ways. He became one of us in Christ Jesus to reconcile us to himself, to prove his love for us and to model a life of holiness. This truth alone should encourage us in joyful hope. If God loves every person abundantly, then why shouldn’t we? Bishop Robert Barron said, “To be like God utterly, we have to eliminate cruel and hateful actions, but we have to go deeper, eliminating cruel and hateful thoughts and attitudes as well, for God is love, right through.” When we choose to love one another as God loves us, we all win.

My experience at the hospital receiving love from a stranger was an unexpected gift which changed the trajectory of my day. We can all make this kind of a difference in someone’s life – friend, stranger or someone with whom we disagree. This election day in America let’s remember that the nation needs more love, not division. When this happens, we all win.