We are given life so that we may know the love of God and His power in our lives. When we seek to please Him, we must expect hostile words; unloving attitudes and even destructive actions from people. The sad truth is that we will not only experience these from those who are strangers to God, but also from family, friends and even those in Church.
The beauty in these ongoing negative encounters is that these experiences offer us a real opportunity to grow in favour with our God. Paul tells us, “When ridiculed, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we respond gently” (1 Cor. 4:12-13). Ours is the task to counter the darkness in others with the light and real love of our Lord.
Like the Apostles, we are graced not to imitate the spiritual and psychological immaturity we encounter in others. As a people of the resurrection, we are blessed to rise above their distasteful behaviour. We fast from their disordered mindset and feast on God’s Word. If we hunger for the Lord’s ways as we do for food (Lk. 6:1-5), then He will satisfy us.
Loving Lord, Your ways are above our ways. You empower us not to respond nor imitate the darkness we encounter in others. May we remember that where there is a lack, we must be Your life; where others offer death, we must radiate Your light and Your way. Amen.
Blessings,
Fr. Howie
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