What sort of love do we have towards others? Do we love only because it is advantageous to us or convenient to us? Do we love because the other person loves us? Do we love because the other person is nice to us or good to us? Do we love because of some other reason? Or could we ever love without needing a reason, that is, unconditionally, with no strings attached?
Perhaps the greatest kind of love we could manifest is mentioned in the Gospel: “A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.” Just as Jesus laid down His life to save us from our sins, we too are asked to do the same. Jesus loved us, and so we too are asked to love others, even to the point of losing our life. Are we willing to follow Jesus’ example in truly and genuinely loving, without counting the costs?
Today, the world is infested with a kind of love that is conditional, a love which is selfish, a “what’s in it for me” kind of love. May we free ourselves from such kinds of love, and follow Jesus’ example in loving others completely, just as He showed us how to on the cross.