For the fire fighter, the soldier, the police officer, and the immigrant, love takes on a seemingly contradictory character. For the sake of their loved ones, they choose a path that forces them to depart from their loved ones for long periods of time, for the benefit of love. Pulled in two directions, they sacrifice the very nature of love itself, which seeks the closeness of the beloved. Love demands the other, yet they must pull away. St. Paul knew this well as we hear in the Second Reading this Sunday; he laments: "For to me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I go on living in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I shall choose. I am caught between the two. I long to depart this life and be with Christ, for that is far better. (Philippians 1:21-23) Yet he decide to stay on earth even though he hearts belongs in Heaven with Jesus.