a lectio divina: the way of love, part two
The day will come when, after harnessing space, winds, the tide and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And, on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, [humanity] will have discovered fire. God created this evolving universe because God is Love and each of us is God’s gift to the world. Our life purpose is to make a difference in transforming that world… Love is the most universal, the most tremendous and the most mysterious of the cosmic forces. Love is both human and divine. Divine love is the energy that brought the universe into being and binds it together. Human love is whatever energy we use to help divine love achieve its purpose. ——Teilhard de Chardin, Jesuit priest, scientist, paleontologist, teacher (1881-1955)
He who loves others has fulfilled the law. …and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. —-Romans 13:19;
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself “ —Gal. 5:14;
The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. — Paul to young Timothy at Ephesus I Tim. 1:5
Love binds, heals, and sustains this world, not by large movements or by legislations, but by small kindnesses, empathic connections, and ordinary acts of loving neighbor and stranger in everyday encounters — perhaps the next encounter. Anonymous kindnesses and unexpected generosity challenges us; we have such a need to be recognized and noticed; Jesus said go into our private room where God sees and that’s enough. Do we really believe that? ..that acts done in hiddenness, and humble elegance and subtle authenticity has an efficacious and substantive quality to it that actually changes the world? —Prh
For the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and the things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs. —George Eliott, quoted in Terence Malick’s film, A Hidden Life; 2019
I felt that I was too small to do great things, so I decided that I would do little things with great love. Every day, I have an opportunity to do little things with great love: I can forgive the rude person, forgive the person who hurts me, and forgive myself. —Catherine F.
Some time back, at the turn of the century, during a general election, some pundit tried to compare and contrast Bill Clinton, Al Gore,and George W. Bush. He said Bill Clinton walks into a room and wants everybody in the room to like him. Al Gore walks into a room and wants everyone to think he's right. “W” walks into a room and wants the room to know he's in charge. We all feel all of these at one time or another, because they're fear-based responses, and it's hard to get out from under that dread. Our frightened selves want only for the gathered to like us, agree with us, or be intimidated by us. I suppose Jesus walks into a room and loves what he finds there. Delights in it, in fact. Maybe, He makes a beeline to the outcasts and chooses, in them, to go where love has not yet arrived. His ways aren't our ways, but they sure could be.—- Fr. Greg Boyle
"I take literally the statement in the Gospel of John that God loves the world. I believe that the world was created and approved by love, that it subsists, coheres, and endures by love, and that, insofar as it is redeemable, it can be redeemed only by love. I believe that divine love, incarnate and indwelling in the world, summons the world always toward wholeness, which ultimately is reconciliation and atonement [at-one-ment] with God." — Another Turn of the Crank, Wendell Berry
Every day I put love on the line. There is nothing I am less good at than love. I am better in competition than in love. I am far better at responding to my instincts and ambitions to get ahead and make my mark [being ‘right’] than I am at figuring out how to love one another. I am schooled and trained in acquisitive skills, in getting my own way. And yet I decide, every day, to set aside what I can do best, and attempt what I do very clumsily — open myself to the frustrations and failures of loving, daring to believe that failing in love is better than succeeding in pride. — Eugene Peterson, from pg. 77-78, A Long Obedience in the Same Direction
Pausing and being still enough to notice love within and around is a deeply powerful and countercultural act…. In the case of most of contemporary society, stillness is a prophetic act, defying that which demands that we move quickly and move upward. It challenges the notion that it is better to be busy and occupied. It refuses the call to be constantly distracted and perpetually plugged in. —–charles lattimore howard
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