O God, in our careless use of language…

We have emptied the word “love” of its unique power and saving truth.
But Holy Scripture ever proclaims and restores the holiness of love in the mystery of Christ crucified.
So forever from the Cross, the word “love” is recovered in its uniqueness of power and truth.

My God, I love thee; not because…

I hope for heaven thereby,
Nor yet for fear that loving not
I might forever die;

But for that thou didst all mankind
Upon the Cross embrace;
For us didst bear the nails and spear,
And manifold disgrace,

And griefs and torments numberless,
And sweat of agony;
E’en death itself; and all for man
Who was thine enemy.

Then why, most loving Jesus Christ,
Should I not love the well,
Not for the sake of winning Heaven,
Nor any fear of Hell;

Not with the hope of gaining aught,
Not seeking a reward;
But as thyself has lovèd me,
O ever-loving Lord!

E’en so I love thee, and will love,
And in thy praise will sing,
Solely because thou art my God
And my eternal King. Amen

A translation from the original Spanish (17th century) by Edward Caswall (1849)

People often pray to God initially to ask for favors or deliverance. It is only after time that they come to lift up their hearts to heaven in large part simply because God is God—our “eternal King.” The same holds true in our relationships with other people: we are first drawn to them because they have something—or several things—we need or want. But eventually, with the operation of grace, we come to love them just because they are who they are.

LORD, OUR GOD, help us to love you with all our hearts and to love all people as you love them. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen

LORD, I partly understand and wholly thank you for the love you offer me, and I receive it as unconditional with respect to any personal virtues or achievements of my own.

As all else clears away in my life, I see your love only as the sure sign of my integrity and the cause of my well-being.