by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
On Tuesday the world will observe another Valentine’s Day. Amidst the usual celebrations, take some time to reflect on what Love really means.
The greatest commandment Jesus gave us is to love one another as He loves us. Valentine’s Day is celebrated not only by couples, but by the general public to show our love for friends, family and so on.
In a land that is crying out for love and for right relationships to prevail, let us take this opportunity to reflect on the kind of love that we are called to have for each other.
Read Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI’s encyclical, God is Love, for a fuller understanding of the difference between the two Greek words, eros and agape.
As Fr Richard Roach SJ says, “Benedict tells us that eros refers to ‘that love between a man and woman which is neither planned nor willed, but somehow imposes itself upon human beings…’ while agape, ‘was the word which the New Testament writers preferred to describe the new relationship between Christ and his disciples’.”
Fr JA Loftus SJ reminds us that St Thomas defines love (caritas, agape) as “‘the effective willing of the good of another.’… Real love is not something that happens to you. It is a decision you make–something you ‘will.’ Nor is real love just a sentiment, a feeling. It is not an affective emotion as much as it is an ‘effective’ willing. That’s quite different from just wishing someone well. It is not just benevolence –’gee, I hope you really get what you want and are happy.’ Real love does something! And it does it effectively. I’m reminded of St Ignatius: real love manifests itself in deeds more than in words (Spiritual Exercises, Contemplatio). Real love is not about me; it’s about ‘the you’, the other’.”
In T&T, while the centre seems to be falling apart, people continue ‘jamming still’. This social commentary by Ultimate Rejects featuring MX Prime is making the rounds at most Carnival fetes. And while the lyrics say: “No, we doh business!”, I see this song as a wakeup call to us to ‘business’.
With 54 murders in January, and more reported daily; with social media showing violence and aggression among our people; with many broken institutions; with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) Corruption Perception Index (CPI) showing that T&T continues to slide down to rank 101 of 176 countries in 2016 and a score that has dropped from 39 to 35 – with 100 perceived to be very clean and zero to be highly corrupt; with drugs and guns wreaking havoc in our land, it is time to ‘business’ or we will continue to reap the whirlwind.
We did not suddenly wake up one morning and find ourselves in this mess. Somewhere along the way, some have lost their moral compass and have made/are making poor choices.
All is not lost, though. Thank God for the love of the many good people who are trying to build a strong nation. There are many good, kind, hospitable, loving people living in T&T; all playing their part to prevent us from hitting rock bottom.
My diagnosis is that we all need a good dose of agape love if we are to rid our country of the many social ills that threaten to overwhelm us.
I was a guest on Radio Isaac 98.1 recently, on a programme entitled: ‘Finding Solutions’. After an hour and a half, it was clear that, like many citizens, all of us on the panel had solutions, some of which have been put forward by many – including more than 1,100 recommendations contained in the many reports on prison reform/transformation since retired Bishop Clive Abdulah’s report 37 years ago.
Our land needs agape love; love that will also reach out to those in our communities who are in need; those on the margins. Let our preparations for Valentine’s Day lead us to consider others and do what we can to demonstrate love for our neighbour.
I end with a quotation from one of my favourite passages in scripture: If I have all the eloquence of men or of angels, but speak without love, I am simply a gong booming or a cymbal clashing… Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end… (1 Corinthians (13:1, 4–8).
Please plan activities in your parish/schools/departments to observe World Day of Social Justice on Monday, February 20.
