What does love look like?
It has the hands to help others.
It has the feet to hasten to the poor and the needy.
It has eyes to see misery and want.
It has ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of humankind.
That is what love looks like.
+St. Augustine of Hippo
Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous,
It does not put on airs, it is not snobbish.
Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking,
It is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries.
Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth.
There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to
endure.
(1 Corinthians 13:4-8)
In February, we look forward to celebrating the month of love. It is so highly anticipated that the retailers even display Valentine cards, candy, and other things related to the holiday right after Christmas, and some do it even before Christmas! As I write this article, we’re dealing with the most terrible fire outbreak in California ever. This caused me to reflect on what does love really mean at a time like this in our nation? How are we going to respond to such unfathomable loss for so many of our own people, our fellow Americans? We’re good at helping people of other nations when there is some traumatic event happening, but we don’t seem to stay over the long term of recovery.
What will we do this time? What will I do now?
Since I live in Ohio, and I’m not able to travel to California to literally help the people there, and I am not strong or healthy enough to assist in what needs to be done, I will certainly pray for the people being affected and for all those who are able to help them. I will especially pray for those who are able to actually help in the rescue, recovery, and planning process, to be witnesses to the best that they can be as they use their hands, feet, eyes, and ears to show us what love really looks like.
St. Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians also came to mind when I thought about what love looks like. We’ve probably heard it read at many wedding ceremonies, and it is another way of looking at what is required of acting lovingly and a sober reminder of what love is not. I hope and pray that helping people everywhere, even if we are unable to go to California to show them the love they need right now, will be inspired by St. Paul’s words of wisdom and take them to heart. Each of us has a precious opportunity to put love out into the world wherever we are and whenever we can. Perhaps the Valentines we see this month will be a reminder to do something for the people affected by the fires in California. Let’s do it!
Sister Mary Thill is a Sylvania Franciscan Sister. She can be reached at mthill@sistersosf.org. ✲
