Gifted to see the Love of God

The texts today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary identify two states of humanity in relationship with the Divine. The Letter to the Ephesians, which Friar Jude Winkler explains was written in the name of Paul, celebrates the realization of the Apostle to the Gentiles that he has participated in a miraculous work of the plan of God for people. The unity of Jew and Gentile in the same Baptism as followers of the Way is God’s work. We see that the need to heal divisions in the world is ongoing. The model of the early Church wherein the Spirit of the Love between the Father and Son is active and breaks down obstacles to seeing the Life of God in the other is the place to which we need to return. The praise and thanksgiving in the canticle from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah is our hope as we work to bring unity to humanity through deep respect and love for the beliefs and spiritual experience of all people. Be prepared for the return of Jesus at the end of life is the message from the Gospel of Luke. The Evangelist knows human nature is torn between taking care of self and service to others. The extent to which we are aware of our role in the plan of God to continue the work of Paul to proclaim the universal community of love in the Body of Christ through the witness of our lives is the extent to which we are accountable for this life.  As we attend to the great transformation of self and the world to which we are called our lives will be sustained in the awesome work of being His disciple.