Sunday, March 17, 2019

Dear God,

My mind, heart and soul were already open to those suffering from the latest mass shooting, this time in a mosque in New Zealand.  But when our priest spoke of loving the suffering especially those who experience great suffering, I felt my heart heavy with sorrow, anger and pain.  "Love your neighbor," he challenged us, "Love your neighbor."

Later in the service when I stood holding the chalice, "the blood of Christ, the cup of salvation," I bent down low for a little boy no more than three years old, who responded by nodding his head as he dipped his crumb of bread into the cup.  Yes, he was saying, that is what this is.  With this we drink of the cup of love and we go out to love our neighbor.

Children, it seems, are not just students but also teachers.  We must learn.  We must love.  We must change the world for the sake of all people.

Loving God,
show us
the way
to mercy
and compassion.
We need you
so very much.
We need
to correct
the ills
by loving,
really loving.

Love, Andrea