Fervor and lethargy

We need to see to it that our life is characterized by fervor and passion. We have to be driven, because this is a clear sign of genuine love. When there is lethargy or lukewarmness, you can be sure love is fading or has faded out.

This fervor and zeal was expressed by Christ himself who said: “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?” (Lk 12,49) And he went all the way to offer his life on the cross. That was how passionate he was in carrying out his mission in the world.

We need to train ourselves to develop this ardour. Yes, it will take time and a lot of effort. It will involve some complex process. But it simply has to be done, and the earlier we start it and keep the pace, the better!

We have to be most wary of the danger of routine, which is like the tomb of fervor. This can easily fall on us, especially these days when there are just too many things that grab our attention to distraction.

Routine is when instead of pursuing our real goal, we get entangled with other not-so-important things though they also have certain legitimate value. This is a big problem, since very often we get lost in our sense of priorities in life.

The subtle and very deceptive character of routine is that it can fill us with many things, it can engage us with all sorts of exciting challenges and projects, and yet miss the main or the most important point in life.

Routine is when we can deaden our sensitivity towards God and others, and enliven our self-absorption to the point of invincibility. Routine is actually a form of escapism from God, from reality, from our true responsibilities. It is a form of pampering and spoiling ourselves. Whatever effort, sacrifice, investment is involved in routine is done in pursuit of self-interest rather than of God’s will.

We have to make sure that we are always burning with the zeal of love. We need to fill our mind and heart with love, and all that love brings—goodness, patience, understanding and compassion, mercy, gratuitous acts of service, generosity and magnanimity.

The zeal of love should always come out fresh from the heart, fresh from its real and ultimate source who is God. It’s always new, original, virginal, creative and productive. Love, if it is real, can never grow old and stale, it cannot be just a copycat. It likes to renew itself perpetually, without getting tired.

It always likes to be better, to do and give oneself more. Its motto can very well be captured in the message of an old song that says today should always be better than yesterday, and tomorrow better than today.

If we have true love, we will always feel the need to begin and begin again for that is how our constant renewal becomes attainable, and not left simply as a mere desire.