Do You Really Love Me? Prove It!

When I was in college at the University of Illinois, I had a college sweet heart named Katie.  A few months into our relationship, we began to saying, "I love you," to each other.  It became a frequent expression we said one another.  But there was one moment in our relationship that caught me off guard, Katie challenged the meaning behind the words!  As I was about to leave for class, I told Katie that I loved her.  She made the following statement, "Do you really?" 

What Katie desired was to see, touch, taste, smell some tangible reality to those words!  Maybe she wanted some flowers, chocolates, or some clear action that would put her as a priority in my life over my school work and friends.  In either case, she wanted something tangible!

This moment I experienced with Katie in college wasn't a one time experience.  The question that Katie asked, I have found myself asking God the same thing!  We hear, over and over again, that God loves us!  God loves you!  But are there not times when we ask that question to God, "Do you really?"  I want some tangible expression of that love! Have you ever said any of the following?

 - If you really loved me God, heal my loved one!
 - If you really loved me, remove this sin/addiction!
 - If you really loved me, remove my loneliness!
 - If you really loved me, remove this cross!
 - If you really loved me, help be get this job!
 - If you really loved me, (Fill in the blank)!

What is so beautiful about our faith is that Jesus Christ, through the Mass, offers something we can initially hear, then finally get to see, taste, touch, and smell; His Body and Blood!  There is nothing more intimate and tangible than giving your entire life to another!  Christ in the Mass offers us His own Body and Blood!  Maybe that is why the Church asks us to go to Mass every week, so that we can receive the tangible expressions of Love that we so long for!

The challenge that lies in believing in a God who is willing to give His very life to us, comes from answering the following question, "What do you think God is going to ask in return?"  It's a scary thought because I kneel before the Lord in prayer and say, "God, you know that I love you!"  And I hear God's response similar to Katie's, "Do you really?"  Love is to be reciprocated.  The Lord is asking us to reciprocate His love and give Him everything!