“As Christians we remain deeply convinced that the ultimate aim, that most worthy of the person and of the human community, is the abolition of war. We must therefore always commit ourselves to building bridges that unite rather than walls that separate; we must always help to find a small opening for mediation and reconciliation; we must never give in to the temptation of considering the other as merely an enemy to destroy, but rather as a person endowed with intrinsic dignity, created by God in his image.” — Pope Francis Reflection: Do you ever give in to the temptation of seeing someone as merely an enemy? Think of that person as someone created in God’s image, just as you are. How does this change your desire to build a bridge toward unity rather than a wall to isolate? This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.
Lk 10:13-16 The disciples are to bring Jesus, the word of God, to all those they encounter on the journey. There have been those Jewish cities who did not listen because of their pride and obstinance, having learned nothing from their history, their heritage. We are thankful for the story of our Christian faith and for those who teach us. May we continue to learn and grow and teach others. This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor courtesy of your parish or diocese.
“That is a real labor of love.” Hearing that statement likely draws to mind the actions of you or someone you know: dedication of time to a special ministry or charitable organization; a craft or art given to loved ones, the parish or a local group; the attention of parents, coaches or teachers for children and youth; the care of health professionals and volunteers for the ill, elderly or those who are dying. These can be real “labors of love.” When we consider it this way, stewardship is a labor of love: we love God, we recognize that all we are and have come from God alone, and, out of this love and gratitude, we respond by being good stewards of our time, our presence and prayer, our talents and material resources. We become more intentional about the ways we use our lives and resources, and are then less willing to waste them. Sometimes our stewardship is noticeable and requires a substantial commitment. Yet the simple daily tasks of our lives can also include labors of love: a caring thought shared; a simple meal prepared, even on the run; a load of laundry accomplished; an encouraging hug at the end of a long day. These are also the ways of stewardship, as we care for, nurture and bring to increase the stuff of our lives, no matter how great or small it may seem. A young woman, Kelli, shared with a group of friends this week this sentiment when she said: “You changed my life. You may not even know it, but your presence and willingness to bring me into your group gave me the confidence I needed so very much.” Kelli’s friends were good stewards of their attention, and from her sharing we see the impact of their labor of love. This article comes to you from Grace In Action ( Our Sunday Visitor ) courtesy of your parish or diocese.
The Gospels clearly say that Jesus rose in a human, bodily form. (And that’s important.) The Resurrection wouldn’t have been the Resurrection if Jesus had, say, appeared like Obi-Wan Kenobi at the end of “Return of the Jedi.” Jesus isn’t some disembodied spirit who flickers and glows with a knowing smile and nothing in the way of practical advice. Instead, he walks again among us. In person. In the flesh. There are lessons for us in that choice. WE’RE THE WHOLE PACKAGE: First of all, it tells us that the human body is sacred. Put more simply, it tells us that the human body is good. That, in turn, tells us that there must be something awfully special about us. After all, if a human body was good enough for the risen Lord to reoccupy instead of coming back as some bigger-than-life figure in the clouds, then our bodies — and everything that comes with them — should certainly be good enough for us. GOD THINKS YOU’RE A “10”: More than that, it should teach us that we should love what we’ve been given. Funny thing about bodies — we only get one. It’s important to take care of it. Eat right. Exercise. All that. Yes. But it really boils down to loving ourselves for what we are: tall or short, big or small, straight or curly hair. Our bodies are, indeed, temples, regardless of their current condition. DRESS IT UP AND TAKE IT OUT: The other lesson Jesus’ resurrection teaches us is that there is great value and importance to presenting ourselves to one another physically. We live in an increasingly detached world. Think of the impact if Mary Magdelene had known of Jesus’ resurrection only because his Facebook status had changed. Doesn’t have quite the same oomph. Jesus returned to his friends and his followers. He didn’t just send word. He didn’t appear in a dream. He presented himself bodily … and in doing so encourages us to do the same. Let’s remember to pay respect to our own temples; let’s love one another without forgetting the “love ourselves” part; and let’s be there for one another … body and soul. This content comes to you from Our Sunday Visitor c ourtesy of your parish or diocese.