Daily Pastoral #70

It’s easy to see the call to love your neighbor as law.
Like someone telling you what to do.
It’s offensive, in a way.

I’ve been there.

I don’t know if you’re like me, but lately, I’ve grown so tired of carrying an undertone of cynicism and anger through too much of my life. Life is short and I don’t want to hold that posture anymore.

So right now, the call to love is a grace to me. If God, in Christ, invites me to let go of my inner ranting, judgment, and resentment over this world that will not conform to my ego ideal…

Yes.
I’m all about it.
Count me in.

Sometimes, I guess it takes years of the wear and tear of the false self to realize…

Yes, I want to love.
I need to love.
I’ll settle for nothing less than love.

Let’s pray together (feel free to adjust to fit you, personally)…

Jesus, I invite you into my world-hardened heart. May I love, not because the law requires me. But because you compel me. Yes, it is compelling to love! Life works way better when my heart is set on love! Instill in me this love that exists in you. Set my posture as one of gentleness, lightness, and love. Even amidst those who make it really difficult to love them. Even when the man in the mirror is that way (as he is so often). Turn my heart towards the endless well of love that exists in you.

Amen.