All we need is love!

One of the greatest gifts that has been given to humankind is the gift of sexuality. It is a gift which touches the human person in all dimensions: physically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Yet, it is a gift which remains only partly used, sometimes abused and unappreciated by many.

Our society, and mostly, the media, exalt one aspect of sexuality - the body and the physical aspect of sexuality - most commonly known as the Eros. Indeed, for many years we have shied away from the body as a integral part of the person. Thus, many feel our society has matured in coming to realise this aspect of sexuality. However, this "contemporary way of exalting the body is deceptive. Eros, reduced to pure 'sex', has become a commodity, a mere 'thing' to be bought and sold, or rather, man himself becomes a commodity. This is hardly man's great 'yes' to the body. On the contrary, he now considers his body and his sexuality as the purely material part of himself to be used and exploited at will."

Many young people have come to realise, only too often, that having a sexual relationship which is only fulfilled in its physical aspect brings them only to an "ecstasy" which is short-lived and leaves them always searching for something more. Many are those who seek to embellish the experience through various means, some outright addictive or perverse. But the end result is always the same: emptiness and hurt which is gaping inside. It is indeed far from the true experience of erotic love which takes the human person out of the finite existence to a transcendental state of happiness.

The secret of true happiness is in the gift which many refuse to open: the other dimension of sexual love: the spiritual and relational dimension. It is only when we rediscover this dimension of love in our relationships and when we integrate it with the physical that humanity would have really matured and attained its full stature. This dimension of love is a "journey, an ongoing exodus out of the closed inward-looking self towards its liberation through self-giving and, thus, towards authentic self-discovery and indeed the discovery of God". This self-giving love is most typically known as agape. It is a love which is full of concern and care for the other.

Behind all the made-up faces of teenagers and within those one-night stands there is always the cry for true love. And so, our invitation to all young people is one: dare to open your gift! The gift given to you is the ability to connect with others, not only using virtual technological means, but human ones. Allow the time to get to know the other for what s/he thinks, what they feel, for the dreams they have, with all their faults and limitations, before exploring the body. Allow yourself to be loved as you are and not only for the way you look. Allow yourself to truly love someone till it hurts.

It is only then that you will discover the truly ecstatic experience of love. What society tries to sell and portray as sexual love is only a hollow shell which cracks up after a while. True love is Eros and agape, unseparated. This is the love which will last and which will carry you through thick and thin. "The more the two [dimensions], in their different aspects, find a proper unity in the one reality of love, the more the true nature of love in general is realised... When the two dimensions are totally cut off from one another, the result is a caricature or at least an impoverished form of love."

It is this gift which Pope Benedict XVII presented in his first letter to the faithful. It is this gift present in all young people, which the Church in Malta through the Diocesan Youth Council's campaign, would like to highlight. It is your gift: live it to the full!

Ms Sammut is pastoral assistant, writing on behalf of the University Chaplaincy. The article is inspired by the Encyclical Letter of Pope Benedict XVII Deus Caritas Est and all quotes are taken from paragraphs 5-8.