Reflection
To know God is to know oneself loved by God in the freedom of one’s own self. What God desires is a heart that can respond in love: love of neighbor, love of the earth and all creatures, love of the poor, and, most important, love of the self. God does not know biological essentialism. God only knows the human heart, the “thisness” of you and me. We have only one real task in life, to live from the heart in truth and freedom. It is time to put away our fears and judgments and to look into the eyes of another, to gaze at the face of another, and to love the other as our self. In the words of the Sufi poet Hafiz, “Within this gaze, I can see the Face behind every face.”
Ilia Delio
Prayer
Abide in my love. As I have loved you, love one another.
Action
Rather than being caught up in fears and judgments, try to see in others “the Face behind every face”.
Suggested Reading
Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Romans 12:16
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.
John 13:34
Love is the only light that can constantly illuminate a world grown dim. The love of God is not generic. God looks with love upon every man and woman, calling them by name.
Pope Francis
Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy. That is not our business and, in fact, it is nobody’s business.
Thomas Merton
I really only love God as much as I love the person I love the least.
Dorothy Day
The message of love is powerful not because of its complexity but because of its simplicity. Love simply means Love. Nothing more, nothing less. It is what it is. It is what all is. Love. Simply love.
Wald Wassermann
You have never and will never look into the eyes of a person who God doesn’t love as much as He loves you.
Kingsley Opuwari Manuel
To love one another means to have compassionate concern and care for all people. It is to know the value of living a good life, and of adding value to others life. It produces a meaningful life!
Joan Jessalyn Cox
God never said to love only those you deem deserving.
Richelle E. Goodrich
If you are not radiant with joy and friendliness, if you are not filled to overflowing with love and goodwill for all beings and all creatures and all creation, one thing is certain: you do not know God!
Peace Pilgrim
Never loan your heart to hatred; it pays you back with self-destruction. Majority of people living are not aware that anger is an acid that destroys its own container.
Israelmore Ayivor
You reclaim your power by loving what you were once taught to hate.
Bryant H. McGill
What we most need to do is to hear within us the sound of the Earth crying.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Pray to understand what man has forgotten.
Native American (Lumbee) Proverb