Monsignor Robert Tucker: Love is one

With the recent shootings and killings both in Texas and New York, we need to pray for a moment that, indeed, love is one. This really, truly means that we see each other as true brothers and sisters and care for the well being of each other and do not let anger, hatred or jealousy take control.

We have become, indeed, people who need to stop and think a lot more before we say or do many things — for love is becoming merely a word or thought, and not an action.

In our Gospel this weekend, Jesus prays to the Father and prays that all may be one as the Father and Son are one. Jesus wants all those who come to believe in Him to know this oneness. We are challenged by our reading from the Book of Revelation to work on this daily, as Jesus is coming soon. This calls for a daily effort in our living and working with family, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and teammates, both living and deceased.

As we celebrate Memorial Day on Monday, we pray for all the deceased and in particular, for those who died in the service and love of our nation. We hear how St. Stephen, in the first reading, bravely testified to his faith in the face of those about to stone him to death. Where did he find such courage? Faith in action is the answer!

Most of us are more like the couple who were looking for a parking place. As the wife attempted to squeeze the car into one space and then another, her husband kept yelling at her, “We can't park here.”

The louder he got, the angrier she became, and by the time they finally parked, they were practically enemies — and all because of a parking place! But there are many other situations, people and places in this story, where you can see yourself!

Conflict is a fact of life. Personalities clash and feelings are hurt. It is not that bad but rather normal that we sometimes rub each other the wrong way or just don't understand one another. That is human, but the Christian challenge presented by Jesus is to do so with LOVE. Go slow and let the best come forth; or just be quiet and turn to the oneness of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for courage and strength to be one in the same united love that holds the Trinity as One.

We need to reach out and be lovingly concerned for all others, like the mother in this short story.

It was thundering and lightning on a rainy day and a mom went to pick up her daughter at school. The mom was thinking that her daughter would be afraid of the lightning. Instead, she found the girl outside the school in the rain smiling at the sky after every lightning strike.

The mom asked her, “Why are you smiling so at the sky?”

The girl responded, “Because God is taking my picture and I need to look good!”

Love is goodness in thought, word and deed. Let us pray that as men and women gave that love and are remembered on this Memorial Day for our safety and security, so we now in 2022 may try to do it for the safety and security of one another.