The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. John
3:35
It’s interesting to note that the words of today’s Gospel appear to
be from Saint John the Baptist, since they come within the context
of his testimony to Jesus. Some commentators, however, suggest that
they are words that were actually spoken by Jesus and that the
Evangelist inserts them here as a continuation of the testimony of
the Baptist, attributing them to Saint John. Regardless of who
actually spoke these words, the line quoted above gives us much to
reflect upon, in that it gives us insight into the very meaning and
practice of true love.
What is love? Is it a feeling? An emotion? A drive or a desire for
something or someone? Of course, the secular understanding of love
is much different than a divine understanding of love. Oftentimes
the secular view of love is more self-centered. To “love” someone
or something is to want to possess that person or object. “Love”
from a secular view focuses upon the attraction and desire. But
true love, from a divine perspective, is very different.
The line quoted above tells us two things: First, we are told that
“The Father loves the Son…” But then we are given a definition of
that love. We are told that love in this case results in the Father
giving “everything over” to the Son. When we consider the word
“everything” in this passage, it is clear that this can only refer
to the Father giving Himself to the Son in totality. Within the
life of the Father, everything means His very essence, His being,
His personhood, His whole divine self. The Father does not say, “I
want;” rather, the Father says, “I give.” And the Son receives all
that the Father is.
Though this is deep and mystical language, it becomes very
practical for our lives when we understand that divine love is not
about wanting, taking, desiring, feeling, etc. Divine love is about
giving. It’s about the giving of oneself to another. And it’s not
just about giving some of yourself away, it’s about giving
“everything” away.
If the Father gave everything to the Son, does that mean
that the Father has nothing left? Certainly not. The beautiful
nature of divine love is that it is never ending. The more one
gives themself away, the more they have. Thus, the gift of the life
of the Father to the Son is infinite and eternal. The Father never
ceases to give, and the Son never ceases to receive. And the more
the Father gives Himself to the Son, the more the Father becomes
the essence of love itself.
The same is true in our lives. It’s easy to fall into the trap of
thinking that love should only go so far. But if we are to strive
to imitate and participate in the love the Father has for the Son,
then we must also understand that love is about giving, not
receiving, and that the giving must be a gift of everything,
holding nothing back. We must give ourselves away to others without
counting the cost and without exception.
Reflect, today, upon your view of love. Look at it from a practical
perspective as you think about the people whom you are especially
called to love with a divine love. Do you understand your duty to
give yourself to them completely? Do you realize that giving
yourself away will not result in the loss of your life but in the
fulfillment of it? Ponder the divine love that the Father has for
the Son and make the radical and holy choice today to strive to
imitate and participate in that same love.
My loving Lord, the Father has given all to You, and You, in
turn, have given all to the Father. The love You share is infinite
and eternal, overflowing into the lives of all Your creatures. Draw
me into that divine love, dear Lord, and help me to imitate and
share in Your love by fully giving my life to others. Jesus, I
trust in You.
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