DESIRE OF THE HEART

As persons, we can love; that is to desire the good of others. Love ought to bring forth goodness. We have loved a lot of things and persons. We look around us and we see banners expressing love: I love Manila, I love Boracay, Lov ko ‘to, Napusuan ko na post mo (about social media posts). When asked to post wacky, we display a finger heart. But when we have a second look in our society, goodness remains wanting. Hatred and violence characterised our society. Why is that so? It is because our concept of love is distorted. The object of our love is not truly good. We have mistaken like for love. We do not love tourist spots. We do not love a fast food chain. We do not love a post. We like them. Love entails readiness to die for the beloved. Are you willing to die for a burger and fries? We have a disordered concept of love in as much as it is oriented towards a wrong object brought by an unclear notion of what is good. With childish disposition, we do not know what we love; what is good for us. We demand one thing, but in an instance, we change our mind. We are confused on what we truly love in life. We cannot make up our mind on what is good for (Mt 11:16-19). 

What do we love in life? Whom do we love in life?

The Lord teaches us what is good for us and lead us to the path where we should go (Is 48:17-19). The commandments of God point on what is good for us. These commandments are what God desires for us to be the objects of our love. God, Himself should be the object of our love. Seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Mt 6:33). God and all that is good in Him is the proper object of our love. The rest is merely a manifestation of the former. We love a friend, even an enemy, in as much as we experience God in them. We care for things and properties in as much these God’s creation entrusted to us. We do not like to offend our beloved by bastardizing His creation; an extension of Himself. We love of we do, though how difficult it may be, in as much it is the will of God. Parents love being mothers and fathers to their children, though how difficult it may be to raise children nowadays because that is the desire of God for them. We please the One whom we love. We do everything that will make our Beloved happy.

Love brings good towards the beloved. This is true when a man truly loves a woman. It is different when a man loves God. Our efforts to love God do not add anything to God. He is all good. He has all the goods of this world. Our love of God, his commandments and will, brings goodness not to God but to us who love Him. Those who follow the Lord will have the light of life (John 8:12). By loving God, we can love the right things, deeds, and persons, as His goodness shed light towards the goods, we should desire in life. God is the desire of our hearts.