A weekly reflection from a member of the Hastings clergy

Written by Laura Stierman Director of Evangelization, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Love is in the air

It’s that time of year, a time of blossoms and blooming, as nature revels and grows in all its glory. Our human nature too. Ahhh, to be young and in love. I gained a delightful daughter a few weeks ago, as my son married the love of his life. They wanted to tell the world that LOVE is BEAUTIFUL and GOOD and worth celebrating, and so they invited family and friends to gather in the mountains of Colorado and lay witness to their union (Gen 2:24). Their love is the best of loves: patient and kind, other-focused, rejoices in each other’s success, not jealous nor rude nor grudge-bearing (1 Corinthians 13:4-13). It is the kind of love we long for, fight for, and protect once it’s found. Their love is based on admiration and equality, in all the right ways. Together they moved into their recently-purchased house this week, and my son told me that they purchased this house within ‘his’ means, so that his lovely bride could choose to work – or not – in order to follow whatever professional dream she may have. He wants nothing but her happiness and allow her to flourish in her personal and professional life. He wants to look out for her. It seems there is a bit of chivalry in my son – he wants to protect his wife not because she is weak, but because she is so incredibly valuable to him. And so it is with the Trinity and us, yes? The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit had so much love between them, that it naturally overflowed and spilled out into creation (John 3:16). And that creation – you and I and everyone and every thing else – is so incredibly valuable and beloved to them. They desire our happiness and want us to flourish. They are patient, kind, supportive, gentle in their correction, and believe that every single one of us is worth dying for. #thankyouJesus Their love for us is forever young and eternally beautiful. It contains so much promise and hope for our future (Jeremiah 29:11). It rejoices in Truth and delights in an open heart. Their love for us bears all things, believes in all things, endures all things. Their love never fails us. And that, my friends, is a lot of Good News.