One message that is central to Hans Urs von Balthasar’s writing is that love is giving of oneself and receiving from the other. God, in all three Persons of the Trinity, gives of Himself, both within the community of the Trinity and to us, His creation. He gives selflessly, not counting the cost to Himself, even to the point of laying down His life on the Cross, giving of Himself perpetually in the Eucharist, and abiding with us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Balthasar says, “Jesus’ gift of self becomes the model for our imitation” (Mysterium Paschale, 111). We are called, by God’s grace and in imitation of Him, to give of ourselves, both back to God and to our neighbor.
We are called to love God with our whole heart, being, strength, and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves, often giving more than we feel capable of giving. We are called to give from this deep place, in a way that pulls us out of ourselves and causes a beautiful ache, and frequently even pain, yet a great joy when we reach out to others from our heart.
Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan in today’s Gospel shows us not only who our neighbor is but also what it means to love our neighbor.
The Samaritan was traveling down the road, undoubtedly journeying somewhere, when he saw a man on the side of the road, robbed, beaten, and near death. The Samaritan laid aside his plans and paused his journey in order to care for the injured man, generously pouring his own oil and wine over the man’s wounds and bandaging them, perhaps with a strip of cloth ripped from his clothing. He lifted him onto his animal and walked to an inn where he cared for the beaten man all night until he was stable then paid for his continued care, promising to return. The Samaritan gave generously, sacrificing his own plans and giving of his time and resources to help the beaten man. Undoubtedly his heart was aflame as he poured himself into caring for this man.
Love is a pouring forth of ourselves, a giving to God and our neighbor from the heart. When we imitate God by loving in this way, reaching out from deep within and giving selflessly, He transforms our hearts.
Loving this way is a challenge. I am often running into issues that make me want to pull back and limit my generosity. Frustrations, annoyances, and inconveniences regularly make me want to just get through the moment rather than thinking about someone else or looking to God. But pulling back in that way makes us close in on ourselves, whereas generously being there for God and others as our Lord does, and asks us to do, expands our heart to give and receive even greater love.
Un mensaje central en los escritos de Hans Urs von Balthasar es que el amor es darse y recibir del otro. Dios, en las tres Personas de la Santísima Trinidad, se da a Sí mismo, tanto dentro de la comunidad de la Trinidad como a nosotros, Su creación. Se da desinteresadamente, sin contar el costo para Sí mismo, incluso hasta el punto de entregar Su vida en la Cruz, dándose a Sí mismo perpetuamente en la Eucaristía y permaneciendo con nosotros a través del poder del Espíritu Santo.
Balthasar dice: “El don de sí mismo de Jesús se convierte en el modelo para nuestra imitación” (Traducción de Mysterium Paschale, 111). Estamos llamados, por la gracia de Dios y en imitación de Él, a darnos a nosotros mismos, tanto a Dios como a nuestro prójimo.
Estamos llamados a amar a Dios con todo el corazón, ser, fuerza y mente y a amar al prójimo como a nosotros mismos, a menudo dando más de lo que nos sentimos capaces de dar. Estamos llamados a dar desde este lugar profundo, de una manera que nos saque de nosotros mismos y nos cause una hermosa incomodidad, y con frecuencia incluso dolor, pero una gran alegría cuando nos entregamos a los demás desde el corazón.
La parábola de Jesús del Buen Samaritano en el Evangelio de hoy nos muestra no sólo quién es el prójimo sino también lo que significa amar al prójimo.
El samaritano viajaba por el camino, sin duda en un viaje a algún lugar, cuando vio a un hombre al costado del camino, robado, golpeado y cerca de la muerte. El samaritano dejó de lado sus planes e hizo una pausa en su viaje para cuidar al hombre herido, derramando generosamente su propio aceite y vino sobre las heridas del hombre y vendándolas, tal vez con una tira de tela arrancada de su ropa. Lo levantó sobre su animal y caminó hasta una posada donde cuidó al hombre golpeado toda la noche hasta que se estabilizó y luego pagó por su cuidado continuo, prometiendo regresar. El samaritano dio generosamente, sacrificando sus propios planes y dando su tiempo y recursos para ayudar al hombre golpeado. Sin duda, su corazón ardía mientras se entregaba a cuidar de este hombre.
El amor es una entrega de nosotros mismos, una entrega a Dios y al prójimo desde el corazón. Cuando imitamos a Dios amando de esta manera, extendiendo la mano desde lo más profundo de nosotros mismos y dando desinteresadamente, Él transforma nuestros corazones.
Amar de esta manera es un desafío. A menudo me encuentro con problemas que me hacen querer retraerme y limitar mi generosidad. Las frustraciones, las molestias y las inconveniencias con frecuencia me hacen querer simplemente superar el momento en lugar de pensar en otra persona o mirar a Dios. Pero retraernos de esa manera nos hace encerrarnos en nosotros mismos, mientras que estar generosamente ahí para Dios y los demás como nuestro Señor hace, y nos pide que nosotros hagamos, expande nuestro corazón para dar y recibir un amor aún mayor.
Kimberly Andrich writes from the perspective of having a hidden, chronic illness and experiencing a deep, continuous conversion through being yoked to Jesus in the day-to-day trials and joys of life. She is a wife, mother of 5, and daughter of the King. Kimberly also writes for Catholicmom.com and on fallingonhisgrace.substack.com.
Feature Image Credit: RDNE Stock project, pexels.com/photo/person-putting-bandage-on-another-person-s-hand-6519904/
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