Dilexit Nos — Reflection

Pope Francis on Sacred Heart

Pope Francis published the encyclical Dilexit Nos (God loved us) a few months. I like to look back at it in this short piece. Almost everything that is written is summarised in the title, God loved us. Or the encyclical is an explication of that love, especially using the beautiful symbol of heart, and beautifully expressed in the devotion to the heart of Jesus.

For me, it was the Holy Father’s way of making the Christological foundation of the social encyclicals “Laudato si” and “Fratelli tutti” more explicit. When we receive the love of Jesus (Dilexit Nous), it enables us to see a brother and sister in other human beings (Fratelli tutti) and to be caring, humble, and responsible stewards of our common home (Laudato si’). (Cardinal Tagle on the encylical)

God loves us, and cares for us. The Bible and the history of humanity is an expression of that, though we ask painful and difficult question on where was God, as in the case of extreme sufferings, pain, war, abuse, injustice etc. A God who is accompanying us (but not doing things as we want to stop those injustices) is at times difficult to accept.

The same God calls us to be his missionaries and he is sending them out as “loving missionaries” or “missionaries in love”, going around to spread that same love. I can be a missionary in any of my jobs, tasks or vocations. And this is task done with absolute gratuity (as love given to me is also gratuitous). I don’t think it will be mean that all jobs will be done free, but a certain reluctance to enter into that world of business (give and take; tit for tat). Yes, gratuitous love invites us to a certain gratuity in our missionary life; probably to give more; to pardon more; to love more; to be instruments of peace etc.

Mission, as a radiation of the love of the heart of Christ, requires missionaries who are themselves in love (loving missionaries is more powerful and captive translation) and who, enthralled by Christ, feel bound to share this love that has changed their lives. They are impatient when time is wasted discussing secondary questions or concentrating on truths and rules, because their greatest concern is to share what they have experienced. They want others to perceive the goodness and beauty of the Beloved through their efforts, however inadequate they may be. (Dilexit Nos, 209)

In a beautiful way, Pope Francis reminds us of how to combine the first and second commandment to love. We are invited to walk in between them; or genuine connection with one is also a connection with the other.

To be able to speak of Christ, by witness or by word, in such a way that others seek to love him, is the greatest desire of every missionary of souls. This dynamism of love has nothing to do with proselytism; the words of a lover do not disturb others, they do not make demands or oblige, they only lead others to marvel at such love. With immense respect for their freedom and dignity, the lover simply waits for them to inquire about the love that has filled his or her life with such great joy. (Dilexit Nos, 210)

May be there is a lot for us here, even for our relationships — to understand our relationship with friends, spouses, parents, children, others through this lens of love, which respect the freedom and dignity of others.

Jesus is calling you and sending you forth to spread goodness in our world. His call is one of service, a summons to do good, perhaps as a physician, a mother, a teacher or a priest. Wherever you may be, you can hear his call and realize that he is sending you forth to carry out that mission. He himself told us, “I am sending you out” (Lk 10:3). It is part of our being friends with him. For this friendship to mature, however, it is up to you to let him send you forth on a mission in this world, and to carry it out confidently, generously, freely and fearlessly. If you stay trapped in your own comfort zone, you will never really find security; doubts and fears, sorrow and anxiety will always loom on the horizon. Those who do not carry out their mission on this earth will find not happiness, but disappointment. Never forget that Jesus is at your side at every step of the way. He will not cast you into the abyss, or leave you to your own devices. He will always be there to encourage and accompany you. He has promised, and he will do it: “For I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20). ((Dilexit Nos, 215)

As we read this, never forget that God invites in love; this invitation can only be understood in love; all other explanations can be faulty and it even creates unnecessary shame and guilt. It is an invitation to receive and share the love.