Dear St. Mary's family and friends,
"Life is short, and we have too little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind….and may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you now and always."
This is the blessing I choose to use on most Sunday mornings, and its words are the first to come to mind as I read this Sunday's lectionary. While Hebrews speaks to mutual love, compassion, and empathy, Ecclesiasticus confronts our sin of pride, which destructively stands in the way of giving our love freely. Yes, life is very short, and the older we get, the shorter our days and years appear more real.
In our Gospel this Sunday, Jesus speaks about our need for humility. He reminds us, "all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” What a great reminder for us all to look within ourselves and ask, "What prevents me from loving freely? What are my obstacles to love? Could it be pride, hurt, anger, resentment? Could it be ego or expectation or maybe something else?
A few months back, I was asked to preside at a friend's mother's Celebration of Life. In preparation for this Jewish service, family, and community, I came across the following:
When all that's left is Love by Rabbi Allen S. Maller
When I die
If you need to weep
Cry for someone
Walking the street beside you.
You can love me most by letting
Hands touch hands, and
Souls touch souls.
You can love me most by
Sharing your Simchas (goodness) and
Multiplying your Mitzvot (acts of kindness).
You can love me most by
Letting me live in your eyes
And not on your mind.
And when you say Kaddish for me
Remember what our
Torah teaches,
Love doesn’t die: people do.
So when all that’s left of me is love
Give me away.
Reflection: Humbly ask yourself, "Is there anything preventing you from giving away the love entrusted to you?"
Blessings in Christ,
Mo. Allison+
551-697-6133
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