Bottom line: Jesus' new way of love fulfills the heart's deepest need.

Jesus says, "I give you a new commandment: Love one another - as I have loved you..."

An incident from the life of Blessed Mother Teresa illustrates this new way of love: Once a journalist accompanied her as she made her rounds, caring for the dying. One of the men had a wound that oozed decay and gave off a foul odor. Mother Teresa calmly washed the wound, all the while speaking softly to the man.

After Mother Teresa finished and they were walking away, the journalist said, "I wouldn't do that for all the gold in the world."

Mother Teresa replied, "Neither would I." She did it for something - or someone - worth more than all the world's gold. Her strength and love came from the time she spent before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament - an hour or more each day.

You and I are not Blessed Mother Teresa - but Jesus may call us to a similar love. One of my friends is caring for his elderly father. His dad always said that, more than anything else, he feared two things: dementia and incontinence. Now, both those afflictions have befallen him. His children, including my friend, take turns caring for their dad, one or two days a week.

"I give you a new commandment: Love one another - as I have loved you."

This weekend we are called to support those who care for the needy in our name. Besides formation of seminarians, youth ministry, the marriage tribunal and other vital programs, the Annual Catholic Appeal supports those who reach out to the poor on our behalf. Last year Catholic Community Services prepared and served over a million meals. They helped 78,073 clients and tutored 429 children. In addition, the Annual Catholic Appeal supports hospital and prison chaplains - including the chaplain at the correctional centers here in Monroe. The Annual Catholic Appeal enables us to do our part in Jesus' new commandment: Love one another - as I have loved you.

Jesus' new way of love fulfills the heart's deepest need. I hope you won't think I am over-sentimental if I conclude with popular song from a few decades back.* Don't worry, I won't sing it, but please listen carefully. It does reflect an aspect of Jesus' self-giving love:

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed.
Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed.
Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need.
I say love, it is a flower, and you it's only seed.

It's the heart, afraid of breaking, that never learns to dance.
It's the dream, afraid of waking, that never takes a chance.
It's the one who won't be taken, who cannot seem to give.
And the soul, afraid of dyin', that never learns to live.

When the night has been too lonely, and the road has been too long,
And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong,
Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snows,
Lies the seed, that with the sun's love, in the spring becomes The Rose.

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