Nobody said following Christ would be easy. Thoughts of self-denial,
of carrying the cross, even of martyrdom come to mind. Such grand
sacrifices, though, begin with the commission John gives in today’s
first reading: love one another. Love the people around you. Hold them
dear, even when they push you away. Be devoted to their welfare, even if
they seem indifferent to yours. Hope and pray for their healing, just
as you do for your own.
Not so easy, is it? Christian author C. S. Lewis likens it to
beginning the study of mathematics with basic addition and not calculus.
Start by forgiving your spouse, parents, or children for something they
have said or done in the last week: for dishes left unwashed in the
sink (again) perhaps or the car’s gas tank left on empty, for phone
calls unmade or unreturned, or for being left having to walk the dog in
the rain.
Everyday life offers us many opportunities to love one another in
small, concrete ways, “in deed and truth,” as John wrote (1 John 3:18).
To love and not resent, to serve and not crave revenge—this kind of
loving requires the death of something inside ourselves. “The feeling of
resentment, the desire for payback, must be simply killed,” says Lewis.
“It is hard work, but the attempt is not impossible.”
Feelings can be stubborn, but God will help you. He will give you
everything you need to love your family as he has loved you. When anger
or bitterness rises up within you, stop and do your best to halt those
thoughts. Ask Jesus for the grace to think thoughts of love for that
person, and then take one small step to treat them with kindness. You
may discover, over time, that you actually are becoming more loving. You
may find yourself hoping for “good” and even praying for those
thoughtless coworkers, rude drivers, and ungodly “others” whom you find
insufferable. It doesn’t happen all at once, but it does happen.
Gradually. Unnoticed. Deep down in your heart. Resolve today to give no
place to negativity, and God’s grace will abound.
“Holy Spirit, give me the gift of fortitude today so that I can
fight the good fight of faith. Give me grace to love other people as
Jesus loved me.”
from wau.org
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