Hemerocallis ‘Frans Hals’
By Anne Norman (Flickr) [CC-BY-2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Have faith in God’s care and comfort. Have faith in God’s tender compassion. Have faith in God’s unchanging, unconditional love. Have faith in our own reflection of God’s love and goodness.
James Tissot, La sermon des béatitudes
between 1886 and 1894
opaque watercolor over graphite on gray wove paper
Brooklyn Museum
via Wikimedia Commons
[Jesus said to his disciples:] “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43-44
Every day Jesus throws out a new challenge. Today my challenge is to love those who have disrespected me, abused me, rejected me, cheated me, used me, manipulated me, been unfaithful to me, hurt me in any way.
My challenge is to love those who irritate me, annoy me, bother me, frighten me. To love those who are different from me, who have different beliefs from mine, who eat different foods, and who practice different rituals.
My challenge is to look for God, look for the good in every human person, and welcome and love—yes, love—all people in the name of Jesus.
Practicing courtesy. Being respectful. Showing an interest. Finding out what we have in common. Being a peacemaker.
Christ Preaching (The Hundred Guilder Print)
circa 1646-1650
etching, drypoint and burin on eastern paper
Rembrandt [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The law is love.
Love of God.
Love of neighbor.
Love of self.
We are called to partner with Jesus to fulfill the law of love in the world. We are called to give birth to and embody love for all to see, hear, and touch.
Via Vitae (« Chemin de Vie »), chef d’œuvre de l’orfèvre et joailler parisien Joseph Chaumet (1852-1928) représentant les principales scènes de la vie de Jésus, musée eucharistique du Hiéron, Paray-le-Monial, Saône-et-Loire, France
Détail : Le Sermon sur la montagne
By Croquant (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons
God’s Spirit shines through my brokenness to shed the light of compassion and comfort on others who grieve, who suffer, who feel lonely, lost, under-appreciated, and abandoned.
We are in this life together. May I follow your light to learn kindness, trust, and companionship. May my light show you a pathway of forgiveness, reconciliation, and love.
Mary and Joseph took Jesus up to Jerusalem
to present him to the Lord… Luke 2:22
Every day is an opportunity to present myself to the Lord. “Here I am, Lord. What would you like me to do for you and with you today?”
There’s only ever one answer: Love. Love God with all my heart and mind and soul. Love my neighbor as myself. Forgive those who hurt me. Treat others as I wish to be treated.
[Jesus] called them, and immediately they left their boat and their father and followed him. Matthew 4:21-22
What will it take for me to leave everything and follow Jesus into a life of nonviolence, love, forgiveness, and healing?
Can I take a step today into an intentional practice of compassion, kindness, encouragement, and awareness of the needs of others?
Ecce Agnus Dei, 1455/60
Giovanni di Paolo [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
John 1:29
John points to Jesus as the one who will be sacrificed to save us. Yet I like to meditate on Jesus as the one who came to be with us because of God’s great love for us; who suffered pain and understands our suffering when we are in pain; who struggled with human emotions such as sorrow and anger and understands our struggles to move through grief and let go of resentment; who patiently teaches us, prays with us, and eats with us; who died and rose from the dead to give us the hope of eternal life in perfect love and union with God.
John the Baptist baptizes Jesus.
Handcolored etching The baptism by Adi Holzer 1997 (Work number 849). A part of the Rosentaler Suite from the year 1997.
After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him.
Matthew 3:16
With his baptism at the Jordan, Jesus shows us our calling, our blessing, our privilege: rising into the place of Divine Union with God and the Holy Spirit.
The Flight into Egypt
Attributed to Rembrandt, via Wikimedia Commons
Take care of your father when he is old;
grieve him not as long as he lives.
Even if his mind fail, be considerate of him;
revile him not all the days of his life;
kindness to a father will not be forgotten,
firmly planted against the debt of your sins
—a house raised in justice to you. Sirach 3:12-14
He is so fragile, my father, and every day getting physically smaller as his Spirit outgrows his frail body.
He doesn’t know us any more, but his smile is as sweet as ever and lights up his eyes. “I love you,” he says over and over. He hasn’t lost the inner wisdom that still knows how to “put on love, the bond of perfection.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” Matthew 1:22-23
Whether I’m having an easy day or a hard day, God is with me. Whether I’m feeling peaceful or angry, God is with me. Whether I believe or don’t believe, God is with me.
Mary Ann McSweeny 
