No Greater Love

John 15:13

13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

There is no love that is greater - no act more ultimately demonstrative of love for another human being than being willing to completely and totally give up one's life in order to save another's life.  This is, of course, theology of the cross.  But it is also not far from this world.

When you consider the risks that some people are willing to take in life, you see that they have this greater love: when someone donates a kidney to a stranger and risks surgery and future complications in order to save the life of someone else; when someone pulls their car over on a road to stop and pick up a fragile human being who is stuck and unable to move, or an injured animal in the middle of the road; when someone dares to speak up for justice when she lives in a country that punishes for such speech in horrendous ways - there is no greater love.

But in our day to day activities, do we dare to love even half this much?  Do we have an understanding of "active love?"  Do we know how to love others not more than ourselves, but beyond ourselves?

Today, I am grateful for Jesus who loves with this reckless abandon.  I am also grateful for the saints who walk among us and dare to live this way - with love, genuine love.