I’ve come to see that all of my temptations come from living one subtle lie: God might not be enough for me.1 My lifelong vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are nothing short of a constant reminder to myself and to the world that God is always enough.2 I did not take these vows for their own sake. I took them to help me love more radically.
Released at the close of the Ignatian Year, the “Love is Above” music video, directed by Brazilian Jesuit Dimas Oliveira, SJ, brings together Brazilian youth from the “Fé e Alegria” School Network and my passion for Hip-Hop ministry.3 Throughout these years of writing, recording and performing my own Hip-Hop music in various settings, including classrooms, auditoriums, parks, retreats, school bus rides and other informal settings, I am always struck by the effect the music has on its listeners. It’s not necessarily what I say, but the way I say it that I hope leaves my audience thinking that there is something new, intriguing and seemingly important being said. And I hope it makes them want to pay a little more attention. This particular song’s message for the world today is simple: in Christian love, the love of God and the love of neighbor cannot be separated. This is captured by a simple hand gesture with the index finger pointed up representing love of God and the thumb pointed sideways representing fraternal love.4
The following Music Video won “Special Selection” in the international Four Dreams Contest 2022 organized by General Jesuit Curia of Rome and the International Association of Jesuit Universities (IAJU). The music video is subtitled in Portuguese, Spanish and English to have as universal an impact as possible.
Love is Above
I have a vow to make to make
Actually I have three
See, I became poor, chaste and obedient
Not so that I can run from love
But so that I can truly (Love)
Poor, chaste and obedient
These the main ingredients
For speeding the Kingdom in
This is what I mean my man
Whenever we say “Amen”
It’s not just a word I’m saying
But a way of life though (life though)
Miami Mike
More than on a mic though
I am on the right path
Writing on my sins past
Fight to right my wrongs fast
Trying to make this song last
Secula
Seculorum
Just reporting
The most important
Love is above
Every other rule in the club
Don’t dub
To love the invisible
You must love your brother that is visible
You live it dude
Love is above (is above)
Every other rule in the club (in the club)
Don’t dub (dub)
To love the invisible
You must love your brother that is visible
You live it dude
What if love of God and neighbor were one?
Then all religious separation,
There would just be none
All racial segregation won’t exist
Be done!
Love creates unification till your Kingdom come
And every nation makes a station
Where your will is sung!
And most important
Builds a building
Where your will be done!
All global warfare would be won and done
‘Cuz we both fighting for the same cause
All as one! (won)
Love is above
Every other rule in the club
Don’t dub
To love the invisible
You must love your brother that is visible
You get it dude
Love is above (is above)
Every other rule in the club (in the club)
Don’t dub (dub)
To love the invisible
You must love your brother that is visible
You live it dude
“And as you have freely given me the desire
To make this offering,
So also may you give me the abundant grace
To radically
Fulfill it.”
Amen.
- Check out my “Poem on Temptation and Victory: Nailed and Unnailed Hands” written just a few weeks after having professed my First Vows, capturing my doubts and fears about living my Christian commitments for the rest of my life. ↩
- Read my article about this life-changing day of professing my First Vows in the Society of Jesus: “My Three Jesuit Vows: Living with Radically ‘Open Hands’” ↩
- “Love is Above” is taken from Mike Martinez SJ’s latest Hip-Hop album “Worship Real” streaming now on Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube and Soundcloud. ↩
- The Great Commandment in the Gospels: Matthew 22:36-40, Mark 12:28-34, Luke 10:27 ↩
