Let Us Love Others

“We are asked to love as Jesus loved in the ordinary course of our lives. This means that we should love others by allowing ourselves to be moved with pity for them. We love others by responding to their everyday needs. We love others by allowing ourselves to show our emotions publicly. We love others by comforting and protecting those who have experienced loss. We love others by serving others in every possible way – no matter how small. We love others by forgiving rather than condemning, by challenging rather than condoning. We love others by responding to the call of God in our lives and by walking in the footsteps of Jesus. We love others by making sacrifices for others. This is how the world will know that we are the Disciples of Christ.

“When we are assembled and have guests, we have an opportunity to demonstrate our love for another. They must see Christians as people who are glad to see one another and who are willing to take the time to visit with each other and who know each other’s names. Our assemblies may be the only time some guests have the opportunity to see Christians interact with love and concern for one another, an interaction that reveals the strong love and appreciation for one another which the members have. Christians will often sin against one another and offend one another. But others should see in us a quickness to forgive, even as Christ has forgiven us.” [Fr. Tony Homily Outlines]

Prayer

God of love,

Your Son commanded his disciples

to love one another as he himself loved.

May the love of Christ burn in our hearts

with an undying passion so that all

people may know that we follow him faithfully.

May we come to see the new Jerusalem,

the city of light and peace founded on

your love where every tear shall be wiped

away, and death will be no more.

Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ,

your Son, who lives and reigns with you

and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Amen.

[Connections, May 2007)