Like great writing, growing in Jesus' love gets better with each attempt
Sister Carolyn Zahringer
As Christians we are to be guided by the great commandment to love one another as Jesus loves us. Many of the psalms use the words “merciful love”. The corporal works of mercy give us opportunities to practice merciful love.
This weekend’s refrain is from Psalm 95: “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts”. What does it take to train our hearts and ears to hear God’s voice? I love the passage from the First Book of Kings that says God does not speak in the storm, the earthquake, or the fire but rather in the tiny whisper.
The second reading from Romans 13 states: “'You shall love your neighbor as yourself’. Love does no evil to the neighbor, hence love is the fulfillment of the law.” Forgiving others as well as ourselves is a hallmark of a Christian heart.
Matthew’s Gospel also addresses love, specifically how to mend an injured relationship. We are to try again and again and pray for a change of heart because Jesus welcomes all who ask for healing. Christianity demands lots of practice. God constantly invites us to be forgivers and growers in the faith. What invitations to growth and forgiveness await us the coming days and weeks?
Our Christian story is continually being written, with many opportunities to revisit the daily draft and make corrections.
Love it! Very inspiring, Sr. Carrie! Each moment is a new opportunity to practice and learn how to love those we have been given to love. Some wise person long ago shared with me that the 2 questions we'll be asked at the end of our earthly lives are: "Were you happy?" and "Did you love those I gave you to love?" Hopefully we can shout...Amen!