Love Until It Hurts, Love Until It Hurts No More!

Before his ascension into heaven, Jesus makes sure we all have what we need to be able to build the Church, the family of God and to be able with the Church to return to the Father as the bride of Christ sharing in the victory of the Cross!

In the first reading, we see Philip preparing the people of Samaria by cleansing them so that the Holy Spirit may dwell in them.

The second reading reminds us that having renewed in the Holy Spirit does not mean we will not be having anymore sufferings, but those sufferings become meritorious because of love.

"For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than for doing evil." 1 Peter 3:17

The Gospel made it even clearer when Jesus asked us to keep His commandment as a sign of our love for Him. After receiving the sacrament of Baptism, (a cleansing from the original sin) we receive the Holy Spirit through the sacrament of Confirmation. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit enable us to follow the commandment of Jesus to Love God and neighbour as he loved us and enables us to endure the sufferings with that love. This will help us recognize Him in the Eucharist and will sustain our pilgrimage here on earth.

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “Love until it hurts and love still until it hurts no more!”