Perhaps
this is what Jesus is getting at as he answers the scholar of the law in
today’s Gospel (Matt. 22: 34-40).
Love sits at the heart of any relationship, of any friendship and the first
mark of a good relationship, is benevolence. Actively, seeking and finding the
good in another. In today’s Gospel Jesus reminds us that we are to love God and
love others and love ourselves. In order to do this, we must find the good in
the ones we love, God, others and self. As Merton says if we can do this the
gift of love will be our reward!
Have a great
Friday everyone.
Daily
Prayer: Loving God, teach us to love as you love.
Help us to make our love unconditional, honest, and kind. Help us to ask
nothing in return and to let our love encompass the whole of humankind.
Loving
God, let us offer our love without speaking. Let it radiate as it shines forth
from us. Let it be seen in our faces, in our eyes, and let it be simple,
sincere, and shame free.
Loving
God, show us how to forgive as you forgive and help us to not burden another
with guilt. Help us to not play the role of the martyr but to be a rock on
which trust may be built.
Loving
God, let our love for you and others be greater by far than any love that is
offered to us. Let our love be always led by the Spirit, inspired of you our
God and as forgiving and free as Jesus’ love. Amen! (Adapted from a prayer by Virginia (Ginny) Ellis)
A
Runner’s Thoughts: “A runner's creed: I will win; if I cannot win, I shall be
second; if I cannot be second, I shall be third; if I cannot place at all, I
shall still do my best.” (Ken Doherty)
Daily
Blessing:
Friday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your Friday is starting off well
and that you are looking forward to a fun and relaxing weekend when your Friday
work day comes to an end!
It is
hard to tell right now what kind of day we are going to have here in Long
Beach. Yesterday we had clouds most of the day and the humidity was certainly
evident as we when through the day. It was a clear but humid evening so as we
approach the morning my best guess is that we will have more of the same today,
sun, clouds and unfortunately humidity. In any case I hope it is a beautiful
day wherever you are today!
We find
ourselves beginning the last day of a traditional work week but for some of you
it is a Friday in the midst of your vacation or in the midst of a working
weekend. So whatever this Friday means to you my prayer of blessing today for
you is that God will bless us with his love today. May God bless us with a love
that challenges us to love God, love others and love ourselves! May our Friday
not be too busy and may we be blessed with a beautiful, restful, relaxing weekend!
Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul
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