Love is just one word, and it carries a variety of different meanings depending on the context. We say, “I love my spouse,” and in the next breath utter something like, “I love chocolates.” One word, two very different meanings.

“Love” has nearly been reduced to slang rather than respected as a word that communicates something powerful about relationships and marriage. Its deeper significance has been too easily forgotten. God designed love to be experienced in a much richer and meaningful way. Love is a commitment to action. It requires thoughtfulness, sacrifice, patient listening, and affirmation. A happy and deeply satisfying marriage comes from giving yourselves to one another sacrificially.

Apostle Paul said, “We preach Christ crucified — an obstacle to Jews and foolishness to Greeks.” Jews dreaded crucifixion since only murderers and rebels against the Romans were crucified. The Book of Deuteronomy says, “Cursed is the one who is hung on a tree;” for, the crucified were nailed, naked, after a backbreaking beating. Likewise, Greeks held that God could not suffer since God was “up there” in the highest heavens, unconcerned about human affairs. But, Christians believe that God is “down here” — suffering with us — giving sufferings meaning.

Don’t we admire Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa who died daily, so to say, in order to enrich the poor and empower the weak? They sometimes seemed foolish to many for who wants to inconvenience oneself and live for the welfare of others. Yet, their boundless love made them perform supreme sacrifices. We now honor them as “Mahatmas”.

Love is not a cheap commodity; it is ready to pay seemingly foolish prices for loving. Yes, love is ready to even die so that the beloved may prosper. Jesus said, “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” This is precisely what he did.

Jesus’ good news is simple: (i) God is father-mother of us all; (ii) We can all live as sisters, brothers, friends in a god-gifted world; (iii) True happiness lies in sacrificing our own conveniences for the welfare of others. Those who opposed this message, criticized Jesus, condemned and crucified him. Yet, truth can never be silenced.

“Bring love into your home for this is where our love for each other must start. If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family. It is easy to love the people far away. It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. ” ― Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa's life was a model of selfless love. No one can deny that the identity of Christianity is Mother Teresa. The foundation of family is love. Family gets holiness, when Mother Teresa's words are perceived in every family. The Holy Mother Teresa lived in our time. If we practice the excessive love what she has lived, that will ensure her protection in our family.

Praise the Lord.

Christy Sekar