"Often we speak about love as if it is a feeling. But if we wait for a feeling of love before loving, we may never learn to love well. The feeling of love is beautiful and life-giving, but our loving cannot be based in that feeling. To love is to think, speak, and act according to the spiritual knowledge that we are infinitely loved by God and called to make that love visible in this world. Mostly we know what the loving thing to do is. When we "do" love, even if others are not able to respond with love, we will discover that our feelings catch up with our acts." (Henri Nouwen) God loves us unconditionally and independently of our response. St. Paul tells us that when we're sinners Jesus died for us out of love. Too often we condition our love with an expectation of being loved in return. Jesus addressed this when he said don't invite to dinner those whom you expect you in return. Rather invite those who cannot pay you back. We also become offended  and resentful when our love is taken for granted. How would we feel if God treated us this way? Did Jesus not say: "The measure with which you have been given, measure in the same to others." There is only one standard for love: God's.