Daily reflection _ love is a precious word

"LOVE" IS A PRECIOUS WORD
"Love" is a precious word which we ought to use precisely, and with meaning, never carelessly or cheaply…
One characteristic of true love is generosity, a generosity that knows no limit.  
Deacon John Ruscheinsky
"Love" is a word that is used so frequently that it has practically lost its force. The word is also used in so many different senses that it has almost lost its value. People say that they love their spouse, their children, their dog, and of course their big, red, Chevy truck!
Actually, "love" is a precious word which we ought to use precisely, and with meaning, never carelessly or cheaply. We should be prepared to back up the use of this word with actions. God uses this word wisely and well. He does not use it in a shallow sense, as do those who are merely infatuated with each other.  Nor does He use it lightly as we do when we say that we love a good steak. God tells us that He loves us, and He means what He says.
We know that God has a profound love for each one of us because He has backed up His words with actions. One characteristic of true love is generosity, a generosity that knows no limit. Love and giving, when understood properly, are synonymous. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son" (Jn 3:16). He gave us His all!
Reflecting on today's Gospel, two words come to mind: love and action. Jesus accomplishes great things through us. He told us that "anything you ask in My name I will do." We receive great love in our hearts when we accept Jesus into our lives. Then, with that love, we can truly share it with our brothers and sisters. We express our love through our actions, such as works of charity - caring for those who are sick, attending the needs of those who are without, or just being there to listen to someone who needs to tell their story. This is when we are truly acting on our faith and truly see Jesus in others and in ourselves.
Easter invites us to cherish the basic riches of our life in Jesus Christ. This whole Easter season of fifty days celebrates the gifts of Christ's power and intimate availability to all of us. Jesus is close and accessible to us. He gives us the assurance that those who have faith in Him will do the works He does, and far more. We must never forget how much we can trust Jesus to accomplish great things through us.
The Apostles are examples for us of the power of Easter faith! Along with the other disciples at the time of Jesus' death, they were full of fear and hesitant to act. This changed as they accepted the gifts of the Resurrection and the power of God's Spirit present in their lives. Jesus had given the Apostles, these relatively simple people with few skills, the mandate to preach and give witness to the ends of the earth. And look at how Jesus' message has spread love and action throughout the world!
In today's Responsorial Psalm we acclaim, "The Lord hears the cry of the poor" (Ps 34:7a). May we also hear that cry and respond so that our works may be clearly seen as done in God!