I like to watch mystery series or movies on TV. It’s fun to see if I can figure out the identity of the villain before the detective solves the crime. And one of the things we TV crime solvers look for is motive, what was the reason for the crime. Money? Notoriety? Ego boost? What caused the crime to happen? There’s always a reason, a motive. Then there’s the thing called an ulterior motive, a second level reason, if you like. For instance, someone does something for what appears to be a good reason…generosity, kindness etc…but that’s a smoke-screen. The ulterior motive is hidden and is almost always self-serving.
Francis, in this prayer petition, makes it clear that doing good things for people, caring for someone, must be done for the benefit and blessing of the other not for serf-serving reasons. People of The Way, disciples of Jesus, love others genuinely, honestly, not in order to obtain love themselves.
“O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be loved as to love.” No ulterior motives, no hidden agendas. We give away what we have been given. We love because we have been and are loved by God, in great abundance. Might be as good idea to have a regularly scheduled motive check-up…you think?
Shining Spirit 
My motivation is often in question as I try to love without expecting a return but unfortunately I do slip into the ‘non-Francis’ mode of I hope I am loved in return. I raise the question again as I comment to your thought of today.
No need to reply. Love, gz