After Things
by Jim Paulin
Out of night swelter, rain
Out of Spring mud, grain
Out of bitter cold, May
Out of dawns’ mist, day
Out of gloom, World Light
Out of storms, rainbows bright
Out of clouds, sky blue
Out of seeking, Lord YOU
Scripture Reflection for Sunday, October 26, 2014
by Dave O’Donnell
Last week I asked what are the commandments Jesus gave us as opposed to the those Moses gave us. This Sunday’s Gospel selection gives us the first two which I believe are the paradigm for all of life: Love God with all your mind, heart and soul; two, love your neighbor as yourself. The other commandments give us a formula to carry these out and how to love life and embrace it more fully even the most difficult aspects of it like our crosses.
Love does not judge it tries to understand and help if possible. Love forgives always and does not carry the burden of resentment or grudges. Those two are best demonstrated by a mother’s love for her child as well as the best example of how we should treat our neighbor. These commandments are about how we should relate to life. Pick up our cross daily and follow Jesus. Embrace life even our crosses. What are the other commandments or are there other commandments?
We are a community of laymen and laywomen who, with vowed Passionists, seek to share in the charism of St. Paul of the Cross through prayer, ongoing spiritual formation, and proclamation of the message of Christ Crucified.
“Embrace life … even our crosses”. Yes, I too, believe this to be so. Without pain or suffering, I feel, there cannot be growth as a person, as a human being, or as a Christian. Even though we will experience some pain and sorrow during those tough times, they can never compare with what our Lord Jesus Christ suffered to redeem us.