The Transforming Power of Christ’s Love
In the midst of all the theological in-house fighting these days, I often wonder where is love, where is Christ, where are those who are so consumed with the love of Christ that no matter what happens the love of Christ is evident. In asking these questions, I see my own lack and my own proclivity to form factions. However, there is at least one clear example that comes to mind of one who lived in and out of the love of Christ, viz., Karol Józef Wojtyła, better known as the late Pope John Paul II. Wojtyla’s life was extremely fruitful, full of creativity, vibrant friendships, and service to others. E.g., Wojtyla was a playwright, poet, scholar, pastor, and a peacemaker who played a crucial role in the collapse of European communism. Having lived through Nazi occupations in his own hometown of Wadowice and the evils of Second World War, Wojtyla was no stranger to suffering. In fact, he personally witnessed the deportations and deaths of some of his Jewish friends. As Pope, Wojtyla himself was the target of a violent shooting act and was hospitalized. How did Wojtyla respond to the unjust suffering that not only his friends but he himself experienced? He responded with love-love that this world knows not, and that comes from deep abiding in Christ. In the case of the Pope’s own attacker, Mehmet Ali Agaca, who shot John Paul II four times (twice in the stomach, once in his right arm and once in his left hand), the Pope sought out Agca in prison in order to personally forgive him.
The Pope met a horrible act of violence and hatred with the love and forgiveness of Christ. He spoke to his attacker face to face, embraced him, and pardoned him. This, more than any philosophical argument, apologetic method, or biblical hermeneutical approach, grips my whole being with the truth of Christianity, and it seems to have deeply touched Agca as well. When the Pope was hospitalized in 2005 with the flu, Agca sent a handwritten letter to John Paul II wishing him a “speedy recovery.”
4 Responses so far
12:34 pm
Hi Cynthia,
Wow. This post brought tears to my eyes. You could not be more right about the transforming power of Christ’s love as manifested in the life of JPII. Thanks for this very moving reflection and spiritual exhortation.
Pax Christi,
Derek
4:46 pm
Hi Derek,
The more I learn about JPII’s life, the more amazed I am at his accomplishments in adversity, trials and suffering. If you haven’t seen the movie, its definitely worth seeing–just have your kleenex box nearby.
Best wishes,
Cynthia
2:33 am
Here and there in our world we are gifted with special people who practice Christlike love. I am always impressed by the relation between love and forgiveness, and therefore between love and peacemaking. To be ‘ministers of reconciliation’ seems to me to be the particular expression of Christ’s love needed in a fragmented and jaggededged world. Thanks for your post Cynthia – a reminder of what Elizabeth Jennings called ‘Forgiveness, the language we live by’. Shalom
8:41 am
Hi Jim,
I echo your sentiments. I long to see more of the love of Christ as manifest in JPII in this world, starting with myself.
Best wishes,
Cynthia
Leave a comment