We find the real art of loving in Christ’s Gospel.[…]

It is an art that goes beyond the limited horizons of mere natural love, the kind of love we usually reserve for family and friends. But the love we are speaking of is directed toward everyone: to the pleasant or unpleasant, attractive or unattractive, fellow-citizens or foreigners, those who share my religion or another, my culture or another, friend, adversary or enemy. We must love everyone as our Father in heaven does. He sends the sun and the rain on the good and on the bad.

This is a love which leads us to be first to love, always, without waiting for the other to love us first.[…]

It is a love that makes us consider the other person as ourselves, that makes us see our very own selves in the other person.[…]

It is a love not made up only of words or feelings: it is practical. It requires that we “make ourselves one” with others, that “we live the others” in a certain way, that we share their sufferings, their joys, in order to understand them, to serve and help them in an effective, practical way.

This art means that we love Jesus in the other person. Even though our love is directed toward a man or woman, Christ considers the good or evil done to them as being done to him.[…]

When several persons together practice this art of

loving it leads to mutual love: in the family, at work, in

groups, in society. Mutual love is the pearl of the gospel. It

is the new commandment of Jesus. It builds unity. […][1]

[1] C. Lubich, Art of Loving, New City Press, New York 2010, pp. 25-26.