How to Better Love One Another

One of the books that I am currently reading is "The Monastery of the Heart," by Joan Chittister. It is a book about Benedictine Spirituality, or about how to live life being open to God in the ordinary routine's and chores of daily living.

In the book she says "the way we deal with whatever happens to us on the outside, will depend entirely on what we have become on the inside."

This is so true.

Over the years, as I have been getting older (and a little greyer in the beard!), I've come to recognize with sensitivity and compassion that a persons behaviour - especially when it affects others adversely - is probably the result of some past experience or experiences of brokenness that is in need of healing.

All of us are in need of healing, because there is brokenness in all of our lives.

And healing is a process. It takes time. And it requires an inner or spiritual approach, where we learn and practice journeying within to the place where the Lord of Life resides. The Lord who heals, makes whole, and gives life and love.

Saint Leo the Great says "The faithful should therefore enter into themselves and make a true judgment on their attitudes of mind and heart. If they find some store of love's fruit in their hearts, they must not doubt God's presence within them. If they wish to increase their capacity to receive so great a guest, they should practice greater generosity in doing good, with persevering love."

It is only the Love that is God that can fully heal us and make us whole.

It is only the Love that is God that can make us more loving, compassionate, and yes, even happy and joyful people.

In the Gospel of John the Lord says: "In this will all people now that you are my disciples, if you have love for each other." In a letter of the same apostle we read: "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God; he who does not love does not know God, for God is love."

Through the ministry of the Church, let us learn how to allow God to love us more and more over our lifetime.

And in turn, let us love one another on the inside, and on the outside.