In the Wizard of Oz, after a long and fantastic journey of self-discovery, Dorothy sums up what she has learned along the way by affirming that if ever she were to look for her heart’s desire, she would not search somewhere far away or “over the rainbow” but that she would begin her search in her own backyard.  The gifts that she was searching for were held in the hearts of those who surrounded her, in her friends and family.  Believing in the love that surrounds her she is able to find her way home.  Our faith assures us of the same truth.  If we were to search for God’s love, it is not something far away and distant, it is in fact very near to us, even now in our hearts.  If we believe in the love that God has for us then we also will be able to find our way home.

    After giving the people of Israel the Law, Moses tells the people:  “For this command which I enjoin on you today is not too mysterious and remote for you.  It is not up in the sky, that you should say, ‘Who will go up in the sky to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’  Nor is it across the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross the sea to get it for us and tell us of it, that we may carry it out?’  No, it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out.”  The love of God is already in our hearts for God the Father has poured it into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  Jesus reveals the command of the Father in simple terms, “This is my commandment:  love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15,12)

    Love is not something confusing, abstract and mysterious.  It is very concrete; it is a decision that we make in living and giving our lives for others in a special life-giving way.  It is something that we enter into and discover through our giving of ourselves to others in the virtue of love.  Love is first discovered in our family relationships and in our friendships.  True family and friends are willing to make sacrifices for others.  “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn 15,13)  Everyone of us is capable of love, of receiving and giving love to others.  We can love because God first loved us.  “In this is love:  not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.” (1Jn 4,10)  To know love is to know God.  If we feel alone and unloved, it is because we don’t really know God.  “Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” (1Jn 4,8)  

    God gives us a beautiful example of selfless love.  God loves us because he is love, not because we have something to offer him that he needs.  Even when we are unworthy of love, in our sinfulness and our weakness, God extends the grace of his love to us in mercy and offers his Son Jesus as a sacrifice for us in love.  The love of God has become incarnate in the person of Jesus and in his personal love for each one of us.  Jesus also gives us a beautiful example of love.  His love is a love unto the end, a faithful love that gives new life to all of God’s people.  The love of Jesus is a free love, for he has paid the price of love and has offered his love freely to anyone who chooses to receive it.  “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you.” (Jn 15,15)  It costs us nothing but it gives us everything, “So that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” (Jn 15,16)  

    We can demonstrate our love for Jesus by listening to his word, allowing that word to enter into our hearts and to bear its fruit and then practicing that love by keeping his commandment of love.  We love God by loving his Son who has asked us to love our neighbors.  We live and remain in the love of Jesus by giving of ourselves to one another in a selfless and sacrificing love.  As Jesus has laid down his life for us, so must we be willing to lay down our lives in love for one another.  When we love one another in this manner, we are keeping the word and commandment of Jesus and we are opening our lives to the love of God who pours his love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.  Love is a grace, it is not something that we must earn or of which we must prove ourselves worthy.  When we love others as Jesus has loved us, then we are loved by the Father just as Jesus was loved by the Father.  As we enter into this mysterious exchange of love, we not only love as an act of the will but we become love and the love that we offer to others becomes a gift and a grace.