we all need... somebody... to leeeeaaaan on....

When it comes down to it, unity is such a pivotal part of humanity and its survival. In order for our race to survive, a man and a woman are called to become one with each other out of love for each other and God. They are called to make the total gift of self through the conjugal act, not withholding one bit of himself/herself from the other, nor stopping until both have reached their goal.

But marriage is not the only place where unity is found. Unity is also called for in everyday life. Christ himself called for it when he told us to love our enemies, pray for our persecutors, and love our neighbor as ourselves. But what love are we to give those who hate us and will not listen to us? Well, if it’s not eros, then it must be agape (God’s love). And how did Christ respond to those who betrayed him and watched him suffer and slowly die? “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Will Osama bin Laden (among others) ever leave us alone if we do not make the effort to show him God’s love? Will he ever leave us alone if we do not try to learn of his cause and beliefs? Why would he ever think about forgiveness if he has never experienced God’s love through us? And the same goes for even the smallest crook on the street.

Think of St Paul. He killed numerous Christians. But when he finally experienced the love of God first hand, he asked for forgiveness and converted. Who’s to say that this could not happen again?

If we want violence to end, we must first quit holding ourselves above those who are violent towards us. Rather, we must do as Christ did and become one with them. We must realize that they too are creatures of God and have the potential of bringing his love to life. But for that to happen, we must first bring them in. Responding with hatred only adds more hatred.