Love Need Not Be Fancy - By: Fr. Joel Jason

NBA superstar Michael Jordan was once asked why he always spends some time talking to the kids waiting for him after every Chicago Bulls game. He replied, “It doesn’t take much energy for me to talk to them but it does mean much for the kids.” He does not really give them anything, and the children may not really want anything from him, except his presence and time. Jesus’ admonition in the Gospel today (John 15:9-11) may seem daunting, “Love one another as I have loved you.” When we survey the Gospels, we see an image of Jesus who always had time for the people. Everywhere He went, people immediately recognized Him. Some wanted to be healed, some wanted to be cleansed. But some merely wanted to be inspired by His mere presence and attention. And Jesus never frustrates them. He was always available to them, listening to them, being attentive to them. Sometimes we shy away from people, thinking that we do not have anything to give them. We say, “I cannot solve his problem anyway, so why would I bother to listen to him?” Many opportunities for healing are wasted by this mentality. As a seminarian, I was assigned to a hospital. I had this fear of approaching and talking to the patients, thinking that I could not solve their problems anyway. But soon I found out that most patients do not really expect me to solve their problems. All they want is to feel that someone shares their fears and apprehensions. Most of the time, all they expect is a warm smile, an encouraging word, a gentle tap on the shoulder, or a listening ear. Listening and being present to others may not demand much from us but it can mean a lot for those who need it. We cannot be healers like the Lord Jesus but we can all heal the internal pains and hurts of people around us by our gentle smile, our attentiveness, our compassion, our willingness to listen. Today let us think of the persons who may be hurting right now and, like the Lord, let us yearn to heal them by our compassionate presence and attentiveness.