Rodrigues Island
Where the love reflected by the glorious cross ascends in cloudless skies!
Spring 2014
At the Rodrigues Love University, not surprisingly, the word 'Love' keeps popping up in various questions. After my two previous posts, I received a number of requests to present the 'Love 101 Course' based on the curriculum of 'Mama Kaya Rodrigues Love University' -Established: 1924.
Love - Love - Love...
Why does that word pop up so often on our campus?
Because:
a). That is what our University is all about.
b) Love is associated with many aspects of our daily lives at home, at school, at university and in the work place.
In their search for the real meaning of the word love, our students often ask the following questions:
Who is Love? What is free Love? Why free Love? What is the origin of the word love? How is love defined? Which is the higher form of love?
Who is Love?
God is Love! Because we are created in His image, we are also meant to love and be loved. Therefore we reach our full potential and best reflect God's image when we rid ourselves of all hatred and live solely in His light to reflect His image of absolute love.
What is free love?
It is the only form of true love. It cannot be bought for money nor bartered for favors.
It is free because it is a gift from God to His creation.
Why should true love be free?
It has to be free. Because it is worth so much that it is priceless.
If we had to attempt to put a price tag on the free gift of true love it would lead us to despair and hatred. Because we would quickly realize that we could never afford to buy that kind of infinite love. Indeed all the money in the world ever since the world began would never suffice to pay for true unconditional infinite love.
Therefore, it is because God does not want us to succumb to despair or to cultivate hatred that His merciful love has to be free.
What is the origin of the word Love?
'Agape' is a greek word. It means selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love. It is the highest of the four types of love visited in the Bible
The English translation of the word 'agape' is love.
In the New Testament, 'agape' refers to the covenant love of God for humans, as well as the human reciprocal love for God and neighbor.
What are the various definitions of love in the bible?
Bible definition:
God Is Love as defined by his very nature.
St. John's definition:
1 John 4:8 "God does not merely love; He is love. Everything that God does flows from His love."
John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
John 14:21 "Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them."
St. Paul's definition of Love:
1 Corinthians 13: 4-7: "4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
In the evening of our lives, we shall be judged according to our love for others throughout our lives.
Merriam-Webster Dictionary definition of love:
(1) : strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternal love for a child> (2) : attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers (3) : affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests <love for his old schoolmates.
The above are definitions of the word 'love' by the inspired disciples of God and by the learned.
Now for the main exercise of this Love 101 course, we are to investigate the Biblical true meaning of the word love as opposed to the Merriam-Webster's dictionary definition. We are to do so under the limelight of Mama Kaya's living example under study below:
In the evening of her life, although Mama Kaya is mostly illiterate, what is her authentic definition of love by her actions and her words?
On the occasion of her 90th. birthday, during her party, I asked Mama Kaya to specifically clarify the word 'Love' for me.
Most happy to do so, Mama Kaya launched in her favorite subject right off the bat. Without a single pause to catch her breath and without taking any time to think or search for words, Mama Kaya spoke convincingly straight from her heart. It was blatantly evident that Mama Kaya lives her true love for God and neighbor so intensely, that at 90 years old, while nailing down the real meaning of love for me, she appeared completely oblivious to the loud music, the otherwise distracting brouhaha of the conversations that filled the space and the general effervescence all around her. In her passionate expose, Mama Kaya was 'the' only all effervescent 'cure it all' pill for the modern 'love' ills of our times.
The following is a translated transcript of the recorded video of Mama Kaya's appreciation of 'love':
"I am thankful I have reached this age today. I am still here solely thanks to God and Jesus.
He has given me His love to return to Him and share with my family and my neighbors.
I have had to count on God's love every minute of my life to be able to feed my 12 children and all of my grand children. I enjoy sacrificing and taking care of all of them because that is what God wants me to do. That is the least I can do in return for Him who has done so much for me.
I do not need to go into details about all He has done for me. That would be construed as boastful. Only look at the greatest sacrifice He has done for me and you and all of us here. God has sacrificed His only son Jesus and He even put Him on the cross for us! That is the ultimate form of love.
From that cross, every day, Jesus always watches over me and He guides me. He gives me courage to go on and on and on...
Over the years, Jesus has often given me additional unexpected gifts. Look! Now, even in my old age I have had another son and another daughter. That extra gift was so we can guide each other towards His infinite love. Jesus knows that the more of us are together, the stronger we are to encourage each other to reach our final destination.
Do you know why I have reached 90? Because in all things I am thankful. I have no hatred in my heart. Hatred makes you feel old quickly and it also makes you irritable all the time. Hatred is the mother of harmful stress in life. Stress born from hatred eventually kills you.
Breathe, eat and share love and you will be happy. Breathe, eat and talk hatred and you will be unhappy. Before you choose between what to breathe - Remember: Our ultimate goal in life is lasting happiness.
That is why especially tonight, and every night, I am happy. I thank God for my happiness. I am happy and thankful for living through another day. I am thankful to God, thankful to Father Laval, thankful to all for all.
Perseverance in love and constant thanksgiving addressed to God, that is the secret of my long happy life. How could I ever not appreciate, forget and dismiss the love of Jesus who died for me on the cross!" All who want to live a happy life must begin and end each day by loving and thanking Jesus for dying on the cross for the love of us.
Mama Kaya had said it all. She ended abruptly by saying: "That is all I have to say. Now, give me a glass of champagne and let us drink to the love of Jesus."
(The words in bold are those Mama Kaya put emphasis on by the tone of her voice.)
Wow! Yes! "Mama Kaya! Thank you for teaching me/us all, on this memorable night, never to forget the infinite love of Jesus for us. You are so right in your understanding of true love! Both in His words and His actions, Jesus taught us that: "There is no greater love than to give one's life for our loved ones." You are right on. In an unselfish display of absolute unconditional love Jesus freely accepted to die for us on the cross! How could we ever forget the infinite, profound true love that it took for the son of God to willingly accept to be crucified on a cross for the love and redemption of sinful humans like us!
Mama Kaya, you must be a saint to inherently and intimately understand the true meaning of love so thoroughly! You remind me a lot of what St. Francis had to say about love? He said: "It is in dying that we are born to eternal life." To end up having a pure virgin like heart such as yours, filled with so much joyful love in spite of all the obvious hardships you have been through, dear Mama Kaya, you must have died to yourself over and over again many times. You must have repeatedly died to your own wants and even to your own basic needs so that all around you would continue to have life!
Is Mama Kaya's love of a Biblical or a secular nature?
Let us examine what parallels can be drawn between St. Paul's definition of love in 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 and Mama Kaya's daily commitment to love throughout her long life?
St Paul: "Love is patient": - Over the last many decades just how much patience has Mama Kaya needed in order to lovingly care for her children, her grand children, her great grand children and a multitude of neighbors.
St. Paul: "Love is kind": - It is glaringly evident that kindness must be at the very root of the self confidence that most of Mama Kaya's children, grand children and great grand children exude. Their winning attitude and success in life, their lasting devotion and meaningful gratitude to their elderly Mama Kaya speaks volumes about the love, the patience, the kindness they have obviously received from Mama Kaya from the cradle up! It is edifying today to see to what extent each and every single one of them unstintingly return that love to her
St. Paul: "Love does not envy": - Envy is the source of all hatred. Mama Kaya's long life gives vibrant testimony to the intrinsic truth that she harbors no hatred towards anyone or anything. Freedom from envy and hatred empowers Mama Kaya to be naturally and continuously thankful for all of God's caring Providence.
St. Paul: "Love does not boast": - At 68, I cannot recall ever finding such down to earth fascinating and exemplary humility as I have found in the home and heart of Mama Kaya. What you see is what you get. And every one who visits Mama Kaya wants to soak in every bit of that humble abandonment to living entirely by God's Will.
St. Paul: "Love is not proud": - The only sense of pride Mama Kaya manifests is strictly for the love she has for God, her family and her neighbors. Mama Kaya is proud to be able to love so meaningfully. IMHO - That is healthy pride. It is worthy of note.
St. Paul: "Love does not dishonor others": - My wife and I were originally regarded as strangers 'banne tranzer' upon our arrival seven years ago in Allee Tamarin, Rodrigues. This old long established tightly knitted community is made up of a number of families that seek to preserve their treasured proud Rodrigues identity. It is a society that is free of transients. Every new house built in our neighborhood systematically belongs to the child or grand child or great grand child of some local patriarch or matriarch.
Yet, seven years ago, the fact that we were newly arrived 'flies on the ointment' did not deter Mama Kaya from offering us a warm welcome. It was foreign to Mama Kaya's loving heart to dishonor 'foreigners' 'banne tranzer' as we were initially referred to. Offering us a warm welcome, Mama Kaya would come to visit us and make us feel part of her Philippe family. In a charismatic display that could only come naturally from her undefiled heart, Mama Kaya would often raise her arms to heaven saying: "Praise God, you are here. In my old age God has given me a new son and a new daughter to come and live in my own neighborhood! Alleluia! Alleluia!"
The same warm welcome and humble thanksgiving were bestowed upon my daughter, Lynda, and my grand daughter, Wendy, by Mama Kaya when they came to visit Rodrigues recently and discover its unique 'Mama Kaya Love University'. During our visit, Mama Kaya told us: no matter where your daughter and grand daughter live, Love makes us all one with God and with each other. He is our father. We are His family whether we live in Rodrigues or across the sea.
St. Paul: "Love is not self seeking": - Mama Kaya never seeks any self glorification. Instead, she always gives all glory to God. She never seeks anything as she relies with blind faith on God's munificence and providence! After observing Mama Kaya for seven years, I often regard her as a living personification of St. Francis. Mama Kaya personnifies the lines of the prayer of St. Francis: "It is in giving that we receive..." Mama Kaya is always giving. Even in the middle of her party, at 90 years old, Mama Kaya was thoughtful enough to tell me: "I am sorry my daughter (meaning my wife) had to go to Mauritius and could not attend my party. But please assure her that as soon as she gets back, I will bake another birthday cake especially for her." It is clear that in giving constantly, Mama Kaya receives much from God. We have never seen her deep well of love and joy ever run dry!
St. Paul: "Love is not easily angered.": During the past seven years we have lived close to Mama Kaya. During that time, we have never seen her angry or speak angrily to or about anyone. Could that be another secret of her blissful longevity?
St. Paul: "Love keeps no record of wrongs.": Forgive and forget (certainly not due to her old age) seems to be the motto Mama Kaya lives by. We have never heard Mama Kaya condemn anyone or bear a grudge towards someone! Whenever, we listen to Mama Kaya talk, we are reminded of the saying: "If you have nothing good to say, you better not speak at all." Mama Kaya will only say good things about all the neighborhood.
St. Paul: "Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." Obviously living in God's light and under His mantle of love, Mama Kaya has rejoiced in His truth and shunned evil all her life? Had Mama Kaya not lived according to God's Will, how could she be the inspiring highly respected figure that she is today for our entire community? Full of God's love, Mama Kaya instinctively knows that to reach the City of God she only has to follow His Light, His Truth and His Way.
St. Paul: "Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." Mama Kaya has unfailingly protected her progeny over three generations. Mama Kaya has persevered relentlessly with her well placed trust in God's Will and Providence. With so much blind faith in God and by the power of her wrists and the pouring sweat off her forehead Mama Kaya has managed to suffice to the every daily needs of her descendants. Their winning attitude towards life today is vibrant living testimony to the protection, the trust, the hope and the perseverance Mama Kaya has permanently displayed as examples in front of them.
Who could ever dismiss such a powerful and irresistible living example of love coming so naturally and with so much authenticity straight from the heart of the most senior dean of the love department at Mama Kaya Love University - Rodrigues - Established: 1924!
Because Mama Kaya's Love University in Rodrigues fascinates me so much, I am seeking a permanent lecturer's position within its fast expanding love department.
I hope and pray that I can teach there while pursuing my 'hands on' studies towards a master's degree in how to reach Mama Kaya's level of love that makes all things possible!
Conclusion:
Questions:
Is Mama Kaya living proof that Biblical long lasting love far surpasses any form of ephemeral secular love? Simple answer: Yes!
Is the supernatural nature of Biblical love as exemplified by Mama Kaya's long life the key ingredient to lasting eventual eternal joy?
Answer:
The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Because I am convinced that Mama Kaya's supernatural form of love is the key to eternal joy, it is no wonder that if there is one living person I would want to emulate today, it would be Mama Kaya. I have already mentioned how through her exemplary love and commitment to her tightly knit, yet much extended family life, I am vicariously living my own original dream for how to spend the evening of my life. Obviously because I lacked supernatural Biblical love, even with education supplemented by lots of material means, I failed to realize my dream for my family. By contrast with basic instruction and in the midst of utter poverty, but obviously with a heart filled with supernatural Biblical form of love, Mama Kaya has succeeded to unwittingly realize my dream beyond my dream!
To further hammer the point home the question will be asked and answered again:
Why did Mama Kaya succeed with no meaningful material means and little literacy where this fledgling lecturer failed with millions of dollars and much education?
Simple obvious answer: Neither money nor brains, but Love (God) alone makes all things possible.
Thanksgiving:
It took a 90 year old most noble and grand illiterate lady to open my eyes, my ears, my mind, my heart and above all my spirit to the sheer power of the love. Mama Kaya reflects that power straight from the Sacred Heart of Jesus!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise be to God! Today, I am most thankful to God for leading me patiently through any number of sinuous unchartered paths to Rodrigues, if only to let me witness the power of His true love that makes all things possible.
Final observation:
Is it not very revealing to note that persons who reach an advanced age give all tribute and credit to God for reaching their age! Over the last few years, most if not all the elderly that I have seen interviewed on the MBC TV have attributed their longevity to their faith in God and the reciprocal love they share with Him regardless of their religious denomination!
Please stay tuned for the next installment on our ongoing courses on our free love courses coming straight to you from Mama Kaya Rodrigues Love University - Established: 1924
The following themes will be on the agenda for our next free courses.
Has the word 'Love' been overly banalized by the secular world?
When and where light swallows darkness... Let there be light.
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