My post yesterday, and further reflection on the movie Bella, got me thinking about the importance of loving those who are suffering. How do we know the love of Christ on earth except through the love of others?

Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery; you shall not kill; you shall not steal; you shall not covet,” and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this saying, (namely) “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8-10).

Loving others is our duty on earth. This was the commandment Christ gave us before he died, “love one another as I love you.” Like the parents of Terri Schiavo, we must show unconditional love and support for those who suffer from disease or disability. Our society portrays such individuals as having lives not worth living. Either they must be allowed to end their worthless lives with “dignity” (or be starved to death by family members) or we are somehow incomplete human beings, whose only hope for a “normal” and fulfilling life lies in supporting research which destroys days old human life.

We must show society that this is not the case! By loving our own suffering friends and family members in a way that affirms their dignity as human beings, we can show society that these individuals do in face have life worthy of life. Moreover, we will help those who are suffering to realize that there is more to life than physical ability.

Likewise, the Nina’s of the world are often suffering terribly, finding themselves in a seemingly impossible situation – a crisis pregnancy – and would take a loving hand if it were offered out to them.

Even if we never find ourselves in a position to physically offer ourselves in love to another who is suffering, we can do so spiritually by accepting our own sufferings and offering them to our Lord for others:

Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat (Mother Teresa).

Love begets love and translates into a culture of life.

Related:
Including Children with Disabilities in Life – another post by Mark Pickup