According to the commentary posted today at dailygospel.org,
Blessed Charles de Foucauld stated in his letter to love our neighbor.
What a concept! Here is part of the commentary:
". . . let us frequently recount the twofold history of
the graces God has given us personally since our birth and of our infidelities.
There we will find... reason for losing ourselves in a boundless trust in his
love. He loves us because he is good, not because we are good – don't mothers
love their wayward children? And we will find something with which to bury
ourselves in humility and self-mistrust. Let us try to reclaim our sins by
loving our neighbor and by the good we have done to our neighbor. Charity
towards our neighbor, attempts to do good to others, are an excellent remedy
for counteracting temptation. This is to move from mere defense to
counter-attack."
How many times do we put ourselves into self denial about how we treat
others and ignore "the graces God has given us personally since our
birth"? As a young man, I blindly ignored the opportunities to
love my neighbor, even though the inherent grace to radiate such love was
always there. We make this choice, and it is part of the free will God gives
us. Once enlightened by Christ's gospel, I realized that loving
my neighbor is such a liberating thing -- really. Self love is easy but
empty. Sure I like to stay fit, eat well, and exercise, but worrying
about the latest fashion, what the "Joneses" have, or the
hottest technology leads to an abyss of emptiness. This emptiness we attempt
to fill with more self love. And the vicious circle continues. This is
where we need to "bury ourselves in humility and self-mistrust,"
embrace the open arms of our Lord, and love our neighbor. For as St.
Francis says in his beautifully-moving prayer, "It is in giving
that we receive . . . and it is in dying that we are brought to eternal life.
Amen." May we all love our neighbor, find true peace in self-abandon, and
embrace the love of our Lord Jesus Christ who is Love.
My prayer for
the day:
Dear God,
Thank you for
the many graces you give.
Thank you for
the gift of your son, Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior.
For through His
passion, death, and resurrection, my sins were remitted.
Please grant me
the grace of always thankfully remembering Your Son's sacrifice and love.
Please forgive
me of my sins, for I love you with all my heart, soul, mind, spirit and strength and
am truly sorry for falling short and offending You.
Through the Holy Spirit, dear God, please grant me
your many gifts.
Kindly help me to radiate the Gospel to the world and mirror
the life of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, and enlighten me
to always follow Your will.
Grant me the grace to prayerfully serve and love my neighbor,
in Jesus Christ's name.
Amen.
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