Reflecting on Luke’s Gospel message for today (7:36-50) as well as reflecting on my experiences of this week, I combined both in my commute contemplation.
Luke’s Gospel for today is the account of the woman who bathes Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair then she anoints his feet with ointment. All who witness the scene are taken aback and amazed that Jesus forgives her for her sins.
It has been a busy, hectic week. During this week there have been many challenges of malfunctions of computers, machines and people. Yesterday, it felt like I had reached an over-capacity of these challenges. Feeling the weariness of this, my temptation was great to be a malfunctioning person, acting with behaviors that are inconsistent with love and charity. And, I have to confess to slipping several times into a malfunctioning person.
As I pray about all of this, I absorb strength and inspiration from Jesus’ words and behavior as recorded in Luke’s Gospel. I recognize my malfunctions (sins) of this week and tearfully ask for forgiveness from a contrite heart. And, as I do this, I feel Jesus’ forgiveness and can smell the sweet perfume of the woman who anointed Jesus.
And as this perfume of forgiveness permeates me, I feel that I am now able to operate and behave from a place of love and charity for others. I can now forgive all of the malfunctioning others as well as have a sense of empathy and solidarity for their condition. We are all in this together. We were made to love, support and care for each other. And so I pray for the forgiveness of my trespasses and for those who trespass against me. Suddenly, I am in a better place and strengthened by Jesus’ love and forgiveness, I begin a new day.
Let us pray for each other. Let us forgive each other‘s trespasses. Let us ask for forgiveness for our trespasses. Through our prayers and actions, we will enjoy the sweet perfume of Jesus’ forgiveness. We come to know and realize how forgiveness is another way to love.
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Monday, July 14, 2014
The Many Disciplines and Cross-curricular of Love
Love is authentic; it is not fickle. Love encourages and builds up; it is not superficial. Love does not tear down. Love is compassionate and lives in solidarity. It does not reject or walk away.
Love is plural and never singular. Love lives and works for agreement and respects and accepts differences of diversity. Love is always inclusive and never exclusive but it does not intrude or invade.
Love is communicative and associative. Love is not divisive. Love multiplies. Love is exponential and has no limit. Love is non-linear and can be complex fractals. Love does not need to be proven. No equation can derive or solve Love.
Love is kinetic energy but can begin as potential energy. Love is also thermal, chemical, electrical and gravitational energy, too. Love is electrons, protons, neutrons living in harmony. Love created every grain of sand, built every continent and filled every ocean. Love created you and me and all the people on Earth. Love created everything that breathes and has protoplasm and DNA.
Love lives in every culture and language. Love finds and feeds the hungry and cares for the poor and sick. Love respects and accepts the diversity of different cultures. Love seeks relationship and does not live in isolation. Love forgives and reconciles. Because love seeks relationship and gives and receives forgiveness, Love is peace and has nothing to do with war. Love can live in political places when politicians agree and can work together for the betterment of all—from the lowest to the highest in the socioeconomic striations.
Love is honest and does not manipulate. Love pays attention. Love recognizes the gifts of others. Love shares and collaborates and cooperates. Love is a team player. Love understands that by doing that—all of the members of the Body of Christ are allowed to contribute and participate in the building of the Kingdom of God.
Love began with Light. Now, a part of that Light lives in each of us. It is seen in the eyes of every person we meet. When we respect the Light of Love, Love thrives in us and emits through our behavior and actions. When all of us can recognize Love, Love will change us and change the world for good.
(inspired by 1 Corinthians 13)
Love is plural and never singular. Love lives and works for agreement and respects and accepts differences of diversity. Love is always inclusive and never exclusive but it does not intrude or invade.
Love is communicative and associative. Love is not divisive. Love multiplies. Love is exponential and has no limit. Love is non-linear and can be complex fractals. Love does not need to be proven. No equation can derive or solve Love.
Love is kinetic energy but can begin as potential energy. Love is also thermal, chemical, electrical and gravitational energy, too. Love is electrons, protons, neutrons living in harmony. Love created every grain of sand, built every continent and filled every ocean. Love created you and me and all the people on Earth. Love created everything that breathes and has protoplasm and DNA.
Love lives in every culture and language. Love finds and feeds the hungry and cares for the poor and sick. Love respects and accepts the diversity of different cultures. Love seeks relationship and does not live in isolation. Love forgives and reconciles. Because love seeks relationship and gives and receives forgiveness, Love is peace and has nothing to do with war. Love can live in political places when politicians agree and can work together for the betterment of all—from the lowest to the highest in the socioeconomic striations.
Love is honest and does not manipulate. Love pays attention. Love recognizes the gifts of others. Love shares and collaborates and cooperates. Love is a team player. Love understands that by doing that—all of the members of the Body of Christ are allowed to contribute and participate in the building of the Kingdom of God.
Love began with Light. Now, a part of that Light lives in each of us. It is seen in the eyes of every person we meet. When we respect the Light of Love, Love thrives in us and emits through our behavior and actions. When all of us can recognize Love, Love will change us and change the world for good.
(inspired by 1 Corinthians 13)
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