Love Empowers the Human Person
Love accommodates all, believes all, hopes all [and] bears all. Finally love is as strong as death. It does not stop any difficulty, but conquers; it is not alarmed by any contradiction, but on the contrary is more courageous in charity; and does not offend the one who destroys it. (OOCC, I, p. 111)
Love, with its spirit, empowers a person in his life. According to St. Vincent, by opening himself to the power of love, a person can become a powerful instrument in the hands of God. In his writings, he speaks of the transformation love can bring to a person. First, love brings to a person the spirit of accommodation. A person filled with the spirit of love is ready to make adjustments in his life with others. While he makes no compromises, he is ready to give and take in his relationships and dealings with others. Second, love makes a person believe, hope and endure. In every situation, however difficult and painful it may be, a person of love faces it with faith and hope, and in the process endures it until he overcomes the difficulty. Third, love makes a person strong in his spirit. As a result, he is not overwhelmed by any problem and not unsettled by contradictions, but courageously moves on with the charity of God as his only guide. Fourth, love makes a person truly forgiving. Though others might offend him, he would not allow himself to be offended by whatever others do to him. But, instead, he would reach out to them in loving concern. In this manner, love truly makes a person very powerful and able to live a life that truly belongs to God and his kingdom.
Do I acknowledge the power that true charity can bring in my life? Do I live the spirit of accommodation in my life with others? Am I a person of faith, hope and endurance? Am I a person of inner strength? Am I able to forgive the hurts of others? Do I live a life of love that would make me belong to God’s kingdom?
If I give away everything I own, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast but do not have love it is nothing. (I Cor. 13: 3)