"WAYS OF LIVING"
"How can we
possibly love one who causes harm or ill-will toward others or even
ourselves?"
Christianity
is about living out our Faith, and this can only happen by the grace of God.
But we do need to respond to our heavenly Father by following His "ways of
living" and doing His will each day. God's love is about embracing saint
and sinner alike. It is easier for us to show kindness and mercy when we can
expect to benefit from doing so, but how much harder it is when we expect
nothing in return.
Perhaps
a question we ought to pray and ponder on is, "How can we possibly love
one who causes harm or ill-will toward others or even ourselves?"
With
God all things are possible. God gives power and grace to those of us who
believe and accept the gift of His loving Spirit. God's love conquers all, even
our hurts, fears, prejudices and grief's. Only the Cross of Jesus can free us
from the pain of malice, hatred, revenge, and resentment, giving us the courage
to return that which is bad to that which is good in life. His love and grace
have the power to bring us hope, peace, and healing, and to save us from living
in darkness.
God
knows us better than we know ourselves. He assures us of all His goodness by
knowing what His love, mercy, and grace can do for us, who follow in His
"ways of living." Then, as we grow and have healthy changes in our
lives, we become more and more transformed into the Image of our Father, so
that you and I may walk with the joy and freedom that the Gospel offers.
In
our Responsorial Psalm we acclaim, "Be merciful, O Lord, for we have
sinned" (Ps. 51:3a). The truth is that we need God, and the only way we
can be receptive to the challenging Words of Scripture - allowing them into our
hearts - is if we first cultivate the spirit of humility following the example
of Jesus Christ. These are true, "ways of living!"