Study: Consider an experience where you were unconditionally loved by another person. How did their love change you?
Pray: Is there someone in your life who is difficult to love right now? Ask the Lord for the strength to love others like Christ.
Serve: Love is not a feeling, but an act of the will. How can you put your love for others into action today?
Mass Readings – 31st Sunday of the Year
We see some common themes in the readings this week:
- 1st Reading – Love the Lord your God…heart, soul and strength
- Psalm – “I love you, Lord, my strength.”
- 2nd Reading – Jesus is forever our high priest
- Gospel – The Greatest Commandments…Love God and neighbor
At first glance we might easily take these ideas for granted; most of us have grown up with our Christian faith and have heard these messages from childhood. But what happens when we pause and reflect?
- God loves us, even when we make mistakes.
- God loves us, and invites us back into right relationship.
- God loves us, and keeps offering opportunities to grow in love.
- God loves us, and was born, lived, suffered, died and rose for us!
Loving God is not some melancholy obligation! The Lord made us for love and through the gift of faith we are invited to grow in love with God and one another. Simply put, each and every day we have the opportunity to become more and more like Christ – our teacher and example of love.
How can you foster God’s love in your life today? How can you find ways to express and implement love in your relationships? Our commandment to love finds its source, strength and glory in the love that God has for us. May we receive the Lord’s love for us today as we share that love in all aspects of our lives.
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Three Great Things 