There is a difference between ‘being in love’ and ‘falling in love’: When we fall in love, it is often with just one other person whose heart and features overwhelms us that we are completely drawn to him or her. Falling in love is often private, individualized and bespoke. But being in love is a lifestyle of love that is not discriminatory or individually focused. It is an attitude of living in total appreciation of humanity and creation.

For the person that is ‘is’ in love, to live is to love, and everything and everyone is the object of one’s love. This is what the Gospel expects of us. Love. Live love. Breath love. Let love be your lifestyle.

Oh…this is a hard teaching. Right? People are horrible! Breakheart is real! How can I love after what I went through in the hands of people I love, after what my family did to me, after the gossip about me at the office, after the betrayal by my closest friend? This is simply a tall order!

Well, this is not my command! It came from Jesus! And he says that this is the definition of who we are as Christians – a people that ‘are’ in love.

But I can tell you something: For the moments that I have managed to go beyond my rage, anger, hate, indifference, and attempted to love, I experience an unimaginable freedom and liberation. It takes more energy to hate than to love. Love sets us free. Makes it easy to forgive and move on. It makes us accept that we cannot change everything that happens to us but that we can control the way we respond to these events. What other gift is more valuable than being in control of your heart?

Love and be free! Love and live! Love and be one with yourself and with God!