She Gave Me Her Grateful Love

By Deacon Dan Dombrowsky

In our second reading today, St. Paul says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” He is essentially telling us that love actually fulfills the Law (the commandments of God).

“Love” can mean a lot of different things in our world today – from loving pizza to loving God and everything in between. I’m sure I will go on loving pizza and do a pretty good job at it. How can I mess that up? What I don’t want to mess up, is loving the way Jesus calls us to love. I need to learn from the experts.  
St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) gave us many examples of how to really love our neighbor as ourselves. She shared the following on February 3, 1994 at the National Prayer Breakfast

One evening we went out and we picked up four people from the street. And one of them was in a most terrible condition. I told the Sisters: "You take care of the other three; I will take care of the one who looks worse." So, I did for her all that my love can do. I put her in bed, and there was such a beautiful smile on her face. She took hold of my hand, as she said only: "Thank you." And she died.

I couldn't help but examine my conscience before her. And I asked: "What would I say if I were in her place?" And my answer was very simple. I would have tried to draw a little attention to myself. I would have said: "I am hungry. I am dying. I am cold. I am in pain." But she gave me much more: She gave me her grateful love. She died with a big smile on her face.    

This is seeing Jesus in others. This is humility. This is loving without judging, only mercy.