Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive? Do it now - Daily Reflections August 22,2014

THE GREATEST LAW OF ALL

 

The law that encompasses all others is the command of love. We are called to love God and each other without exception. We are often particular in our love of others, choosing to love most people and refusing to love a few. This is not acceptable to the Christian way of life. The law of love that Jesus commands is that we should love everyone, including our enemies. This is what sets Christianity apart from other religions. The universality of the command to love means that we have a very sophisticated understanding of the idea of forgiveness, something that is deficient and even absent from other religions and ways of life.

       As we celebrate the Queenship of Mary today, in honor of her love for us as our Mother, the Mother of the Church, our Queen, let us resolve to love others with a greater commitment than before. Let us stretch ourselves in love so that we will be obedient to love even our enemies, as hard as that is in reality. I am sure that Mary will be most pleased if we make any effort to fulfill this law.

       Jesus is right when He answers that the commandments rest on the dual command of love: love of God and love of neighbor. It is good to reflect on how this is, as it can inspire us to give greater effort along these lines. If we understand that love is at the heart of everything we do, we will realize that the expressions of love, from the smallest to the greatest, are what will ultimately matter to us as individuals and as part of the human family. There is nothing more important or powerful in propagating peace than choosing to love our enemies. If we seek revenge, then the conflict is perpetuated indefinitely; if one party chooses the way of forgiveness, the resolution of the issue is close at hand.

       Let us be the first to seek love as the primary focus of our relationships. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Is there anyone in your life that you need to forgive? Do it now.

 

Holy Spirit, without Your help I will not be able to love and forgive those who have wronged me. Help me to overcome any desire for revenge and to choose love and forgiveness every time.