The pure gift For those who seek to make prayer an important part of their lives, it will slowly bring them to an understanding of the depth of their union with God, as well as with others. All human beings are made in the image and likeness of God, so the slowly deepening love of God will bring out a corresponding love of others. Religion that is used to separate oneself from others could be considered evil. For to live out of the ‘Golden Rule’, to ‘treat others as we would like to be treated”, if it becomes something real, makes it impossible to wall people off, for we are all brothers and sisters made, again, in the image and likeness of God. Failures yes, for to grow in love is also to grow in Self-knowledge, learning the reality, the importance and the pure gift of ‘grace’ in one’s life.--Br.MD
Many encounters in life are brief, less than say 20 minutes. In their brevity, love and compassion towards the other is a most beautiful gift. Paul uses a string of virtues to describe this in Galatians 5: ...the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; We will graciously impact hearts and lives when we are clothed with these. But ultimately, all that we share and do is not simply to extend God's Love, for St. Paul also writes: Phil 3:8 Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Surpassing worth in this sentence means there is nothing of greater value; like the pearl of great price. To not ultimately point, in some form or fashion, to Jesus who is the perfect embodiment of all virtues, is to fall short of my vocation. Safe in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary!
