The Garden Sister Mary Romana tends

May 14, 2005

Love Jn 15:9-17

Jesus said to his disciples: "As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.

"I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends,
because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another."

It is recommended this year that on Memorial Day at 3 pm people observe a time of silence. "No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends." There are people who have layed down their life so that my life could be better. There are many ways. There are soldiers, police, firemen, rescue workers and more. There are so many people who have died serving others. Two mondays from today is Memorial Day. It was started primarily for those who died in wars. It is a gift of self when others serve in order to protect their homeland. War can be a nightmare but the willingness of others to give their own life to protect and serve is a great gift of love.

My grandfather who was my mother's father worked his way up in Dupont's Chemical Company from messenger to chemical engineer and plant manager. At the time, there were plastics and explosives being made. According to my mother, more then once there were explosions with fires after and my grandfather went back into burning, exploding buildings to carry people out. I hope that if a situation like that presents itself that I have the fortitude and courage to be willing to out of love lay down my life for a friend. It is the highest form of love lived out, acted on, made real.