For the whole law is fulfilled in one statement, namely,
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Galatians 5:14
And another said, “I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home.”Luke 9:61
What delays me from following the way of Jesus in welcoming, forgiving, loving, showing compassion to, and living in peace with my neighbor?
Today I will practice awareness of the presence of the Lord in each moment.
The Blue Marble
NASA/Apollo 17 crew; taken by either Harrison Schmitt or Ron Evans, December 7, 1972
We human persons are so small, frail, weak, and fragile. But filled with God’s Holy Spirit, we have the choice to be spacious in love, unbreakable in generosity, powerful in compassion, and invincible in forgiveness.
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place — What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? Psalm 8:4-5
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William Rimmer (1816-1879)
Saint Stephen, 1860
Art Institute of Chicago
[Jesus prayed, saying, “Holy Father,] I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are one, I in them and you in me.” John 17:22-23a
We are of God and in God, tiny sparks reflecting God’s glory.
How will I shine God’s glorious love and compassion in the world today?
Enver Rahmanov
Prayer of compassion
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and of great kindness.
The LORD is good to all
and compassionate toward all his works. Psalm 145:8-9
How grateful I am to be able to turn to the Lord and know I will be welcomed with kindness and compassion, particularly on a day like today when I am in great need of comfort.
Many experiences have exhausted my energy, damaged my sense of self-worth, and discouraged me from sharing my gifts and talents. I often feel like the fig tree that struggled to bear fruit.
God’s compassion is revealed through the kind people who don’t give up on me, but support me in times of trouble and help me to find the courage to keep going, to find a way to bear good, loving, peace-filled fruit.
[The gardener] said to him in reply,
‘Sir, leave [the fig tree] for this year also,
and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;
it may bear fruit in the future.” Luke 13:8-9a
When I intentionally practice love, compassion, respect, forgiveness, gratitude, and peace, those Christ-like qualities grow in my heart to feed me and others—even in times of loneliness, suffering, and conflict.
[Jesus said,] “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good.” Luke 6:45a
Resentment, fear, and the desire for retribution are heavy burdens. I would like to let them go, even though the pain of mistreatment goes deep.
Today I will hear and practice what the Lord asks of me: to love, bless, and pray for the people I consider my enemies and all those who have hurt me. Then may the burdens I carry be dissolved into the light of Love and Truth.
Jesus said to his disciples: “To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” Luke 6:28
Richard Dadd (British, 1817 – 1886)
Mercy: David Spareth Saul’s Life
oil on canvas, 1854
Getty Center
If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it;
if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.
1 Corinthians 12:26
Today let me remember that everyone carries the burden of grief and suffering. May I be comfort and compassion for others.
We are called by our baptism to remember each member of our human family is beloved of God.
It is our lifework to offer compassion to the suffering, forgiveness to those who have hurt us, and comfort to those who are grieving and burdened with the stresses that arise in life.
Comfort, give comfort to my people, says your God. Isaiah 40:1
Holy Family
A worldwide human family that reflects love and harmony…
…is only possible if I open my heart today and treat myself and all people with compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, and forgiveness. It is only possible when I stop comparing myself to others and follow the Way of unconditional love.
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. Colossians 3:12-13a
Mary Ann McSweeny 