To Fall In Love With God

         “ALL ARE COMMANDED TO LOVE GOD, BUT TO FALL IN LOVE WITH GOD IS SOMETHING ELSE.”  This is a statement from Rev. Fr. Horacio de la Costa, SJ, in one of his homilies that were published by Mr. Roberto M. Paterno.

       For quite some time I have been pondering on the difference between ‘LOVING GOD’ and ‘FALLING IN LOVE WITH GOD’.  Father de la Costa says that to love God is a command, but to fall in love with God is an invitation.  He gave as an example the story of the rich young man whom Christ invited to follow Him as narrated in Luke 18:18-25.  The young man was, indeed, obeying all the commandments.  But when he was asked to leave everything he possessed and follow Christ, he turned and walked away.   Father de la Costa says that Christ wasn’t angry, but He was sorry that one to whom He had given His divine Heart could not find it in his own heart to love Him in return. 

      The homily of Father de la Costa was actually on the subject of VOCATION.  He says that a vocation is an INVITATION not  a COMMAND.  The Lord forces no one to accept His invitation.  But accepting His invitation would mean ‘FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM’. 

       Father de la Costa dealt with the Vocation to the Priesthood.  He elaborated on what one has to forego and the hardships he has to endure to heed the call to the priesthood.  That despite all many sacrifices, a priest is still full of joy because he has fallen in love with Christ.

            We  have been used to consider the Priesthood as the most sublime of all vocations.  This is based on perceptions of the great sacrifices one has to undergo as a priest.  In recent years, however, there is a growing consensus that one vocation is as good as another.  The difference lies on how well one lives his vocation.  In other words, spiritual writers say: “Bloom where you are planted.”  Whatever may be the particular calling or vocation of anyone; be it in the religious life, in priesthood, in married life, or in single blessedness, what matters is ‘with how much love’ one has performed  the duties and responsibilities that have been imposed on him.

 Hence, falling in love with God means surrendering oneself entirely to the Will of God, so that in whatever way God calls, one responds to His call with all the love that he can give.  In other words, it is following Christ’s example when He said: “LORD, NOT MY WILL, BUT YOUR WILL BE DONE.”

By: Buddy Cagurangan

July 1, 2012