Perfect Love

Can we ever give enough of ourselves in the manner of Christ, whose most perfect example of love we are privileged to know and emulate? Usually not, for He went to the length of laying down His life for mankind in obedience to the Father, while many of us are called to die in a far less drastic manner; in a service of love to the other, be it spouse, relative, friend, or sometimes stranger. Even so, we find it a struggle to relinquish our selfish desires, ideals, injured feelings, petty emotions, ect. when it would cause the happiness or comfort of another. Or if we muster the will to accomplish this much, we still struggle with acting in total unselfishness, with a joyful heart and countenance; thus, we are not giving our true and best effort, and the act still lacks perfect love. Today's Scripture readings affirm this - if we do not have perfect love, we gain nothing. Perfect love "is not jealous...it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury...It bears all things...and never fails" (Corinthians 13:4-8). Seemingly a small order, but the weakness and selfishness of human nature often prevails, and we act as though burdened with a chore. It is essential to always keep our gaze on Christ on the cross - an image that I like to refer to as the perfect "textbook" for marriage, by the way, (...active hormones or not! Isn't the merit greater when the struggle is greater? :) Christ did not bemoan His calling, but embraced every instant of joy, sacrifice, and suffering with the entirety of His faculties and being - out of perfect love. Can we not serve God and those we love with at least a fraction of this perfect love?