Love in Action is a Harsh and Dreadful Thing
When my classmates and I visited Gaza in 1999, we met several of Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. When asked how it was that they seemed so happy in the face of such desperation they replied simply, “Our mission is to serve the poor. Here in Gaza, we are surrounded by the poor. How could we be anything but happy in our service to those who need to see the face of Christ’s love?” It was an excellent answer. Today I share a well known reflection on what love looks like from Staretz Zossima of Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov.
Never be frightened at your own faint-heartedness in attaining love. Don’t be frightened overmuch even at your evil actions. I am sorry I can say nothing more consoling to you, for love in action is a harsh and dreadful thing compared with love in dreams. Love in dreams is greedy for immediate action, rapidly performed and in the sight of all. Men will even give their lives if only the ordeal does not last long but is soon over, with all looking on and applauding as though on the stage. But active love is labour and fortitude, and for some people too, perhaps, a complete science. But I predict that just when you see with horror that in spite of all your efforts you are getting farther from your goal instead of nearer to it- at that very moment I predict that you will reach it and behold clearly the miraculous power of the Lord who has been all the time loving and mysteriously guiding you.
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