[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 116 (Thursday, August 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           THE POWER OF LOVE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ALBERT RUSSELL WYNN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 31, 1996

  Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, a constituent of mine, Mr. John F. Flood, 
brought to my attention a copy of Msgr. E. Carl Lyon's homily in 
celebration of his 50th anniversary as a Catholic priest. The homily 
entitled, ``The Power of Love,'' is fitting and I would ask that the 
Members of this body take the opportunity to read Monsignor Lyon's 
message:

                           The Power of Love

                       (Monsignor Lyon's Homily)

       The discovery of fire thousands of years ago, is said to 
     have saved the human race from extinction. Today, it is not 
     the absence of fire, but the absence of love, that could 
     bring about the extinction of the human race. This prediction 
     is made despite what men and women have said about love.
       Love has been referred to as ``The religion of humanity!'' 
     I once listened to a priest talk for two hours on this one 
     quotation: ``Love cannot endure indifference. It needs to be 
     wanted.''
       And of course there's the beautiful quotation of St. John 
     of the Cross: ``When the evening of life comes, we shall be 
     judged on love.''
       Environmental problems, nuclear capability, human 
     inability, and the willingness to love one another are 
     threatening the survival of our planet. Unless we rediscover 
     love and harness its energies to God's plan, we may not make 
     it through another century. It is feared that the human race 
     will destroy the human race through hatred.
       But this need not be. In the place of hatred, there stands 
     always love. Love is the most universal, the most tremendous, 
     the most mysterious, the most persuasive force in the world.
       Because of these attributes, Jesus invites us to nothing 
     more and nothing less, than a fundamental orientation of our 
     life, of our love toward God. Jesus expects our total 
     surrender to Him.
       Love is so divine that we can say not only that God is 
     love, but that love is God. As followers of Christ, we 
     believe that love is action. We believe that love is the 
     strongest force in the world--stronger than hate, stronger 
     than evil, stronger than death. We believe that as great as 
     faith and hope are, love is still greater. We believe that 
     faith without love is cold; hope without love is grim.
       As imitators of Christ, we forget what we have done for 
     other people and remember what others have done for us; we 
     ignore what the world owes us and think of what we owe the 
     world.
       We put our rights in the background and our duties in the 
     foreground; we see that every human being, regardless of 
     creed, race or nationality, is just as real as we are, just 
     as prone to mistakes as we are, just as nice as we are.
       To love we are willing: to consider the needs and desires 
     of children; to remember the weaknesses and loneliness of 
     people growing old; to stop asking how much our friends love 
     us and ask ourselves whether we love them as Christ would 
     have us love.
       We believe that love knows no limitations and stops at no 
     boundaries; that it is the only cure for racism, the only 
     solution to poverty, the only means to peace. Love knows not 
     anger, nor revenge, nor wrath, nor jealousy.
       We believe that love accepts everyone, embraces everyone, 
     and that it is the only bond that can attach people to people 
     and people to God. Love is the companion of compassion, 
     reconciliation, forgiveness and contrition.
       What is real Christian love? It is more than a feeling of 
     affection for others, more than benevolence. It has 
     substance, strength, action and sacrifice. Christian love is 
     action--something we do.
       I would not want this day to go by without mentioning the 
     wonderful people who are not of our faith--who have done so 
     much for the good of our parish. There are too many to name, 
     but I am grateful to each of them.
       The priesthood has been a joy for me and the joy has been 
     made possible because of you wonderful people. As a matter of 
     fact your friendship has given me a glimpse of the eternal.
       We have gathered to celebrate the divine fact that God is 
     in love with us.
       As we resume our journey--

     Don't walk in front of me,
       I may not follow.
     Don't walk behind me,
       I may not lead.
     Walk beside me
       and be my friend.

                          ____________________