Reflection given by
Sister Grace Frances Strauber, SFP
at General Chapter 2004
during the U.S.A. Morning Prayer Service |
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October 12, 2004
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In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless void . . . God said let there be light, and there was light . . . when the heavens and earth were finished and their multitudes . . . God said let us make humankind in our own image, according to our likeness.
Turn, face your neighbor (the person next to you) |
and God saw everything God made, and indeed it was very good!
In the beginning “was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God . . . all things came into being through Him . . . what has come into being in Him was life and the life was light to all people . . .”
The great God of beauty beyond comprehension
What are humans, O Lord, that you are mindful of us!
And the Word became flesh and lived among us.
So small, like us; so vulnerable to all the challenges of living among us.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us.
The Word of God becomes the light of the world. |
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Jesus of Nazareth the one who makes known the Word of God. If there is Word then it exists to say something. The Word will be spoken . . .
Jesus spoke to them saying,
“I am the light of the World, whoever follows me will never walk in darkness . . .”
And Jesus said:
“I give you a new Commandment that you love one another as I have loved you . . . those who love me will keep my Word . . . and my Father will love
them . . . the Word you hear is from the Father who sent me . . . so as the Father sent me, I send you.”
Like Jesus we simply cannot be detached from our fellow human beings. You, yourself have to give witness to love, then you will bring your neighbor to love.
“As the Father sent me, so I send you”
to reconcile, to reconciliation; to conversion of heart;
to turning from the ways of violence and selfishness in one’s own life.
“As the Father sent me, so I send you”
to be witness to the Word, to heal our wounded world.
It is only love, a way marked by mercy and justice,
that will heal our wounded world.
“As the Father sent me, so I send you”
to love. Love is at the heart of the reign of God;
not an easy love but a self-giving love on the model of God. |
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“As the Father sent me, so I send you”
To Love.
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