"Love to be real, it must cost—it must hurt—it must empty us of self." – Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

There is a terrible hunger for love. We all experience that in our lives - the pain, the loneliness. We must have the courage to recognize it. The poor you may have right in your own family. Find them. Love them. – Blessed Teresa of Calcutta

(Ps 149: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a, and 9b)
R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.
Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia.
R. The Lord takes delight in his people.

The Lord is delighted by you. It does not say “vaguely amused” or “kind of joyful.” It says delight. There is so much more strength and sincerity behind the word 'delight'. This is not some kind of puppy love that ends when we make a mistake or fail to be perfect. This is not a relationship where we need to put on any mask or face of false perfection. This is the real, true “love ya til it hurts” kind of love.

“For the Lord LOVES his people…” The responsorial psalm today is joyful and reassuring, but I also look at it as a challenge. He thinks we’re pretty darn neat, and now we have to try and live up to it. We do not have to wear masks or pretend to be perfect, but we want to be perfect. We want to love the Lord back. It is so important to realize how much the Lord loves every person, how much they delight him. Our journey toward perfection starts with this. Growth and understanding happen with his love and delight.

He loves you so much.