May 18: The Day of the Lord

“Love one another as I have loved you.” John 13, 31-35

There is an old story that has been around for a good many years. Perhaps you have heard this story or a version of it....

Five-year old Suzie loved her brother Michael very much. One day, a doctor told their family that Michael was very sick and need a blood transfusion. On hearing this, Suzie began to cry. The doctor asked her if she would be willing to give her blood to her brother, they were a perfect match. She hesitated did Suzie, but she eventually said, “yes.”

The doctor took the blood from Suzie and then she began to rest on the table where they had put her. At a certain point, she looked up at the doctor and said, “Doctor, when do I die?’ It was only then that the doctor and the rest of the family fully appreciated the extent of her love for her brother. At five years of age, she thought “transfusion” meant “Michael lives and I don’t.” She wasn’t going to die, but she was willing. That’s love.

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Love asks the best from us, and brings out the best in us. Loving and being loved gives us a surprising energy and courage. Love makes us fruitful, productive, strong, and constant in doing good. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, famous for her work on the stages of dying, has written: ‘Love is the flame that warms our soul, energizes our spirit, and supplies passion to our lives. It is our connection to God and to one another.”

You likely know this song: https://youtu.be/wo4ijOIs6as