The Love We Give Away

 

Readings 102726

We begin learning about love
at the very start of life.
It's the first thing we need,
and the last thing we lose.
But Christ shows us what kind of love it is.

Paul says,
"Be subordinate to one another
out of reverence for Christ."
Husbands, love your wives
"as Christ loved the Church
and handed himself over for her."
That is not power over.
That is love poured out.

And how does this Kingdom grow?
Like a mustard seed,
planted quietly,
until it becomes a great bush.
Like yeast a woman mixed into flour,
hidden, humble,
until the whole batch rises.

No trumpets. No crowds.
Just small, quiet acts of love, repeated.
A word of patience.
A sacrifice no one sees.
A choice to put the other first.

That's how a marriage, a family,
a world is changed.

So give love away today,
in small ways, in hidden ways.
Because the love we give away
is the only love we keep,

Prayer

Lord Jesus,
Teach me to love

as You loved, 

with a heart willing to serve.
Make my small acts of kindness 

fruitful in Your Kingdom.
May the love I give away today 

draw others closer to You. 

Amen.

Locked In

 

Readings 102626 

Last week at Mass, 

 the little ones went to children’s church.
They all came back… except Logan.
Five years old. Missing.

His mother and aunt noticed, 

 but figured he’d turn up.
Then the children’s leader came in, 

 spoke to an off duty police officer, 

 and both of them left.
Now it got serious.

Then here comes Logan, 

 crying his eyes out.
He’d gone to the restroom 

 and locked the door.
It was an old lock, 

 no pick hole, 

 and at five he couldn’t work it out.

An neither could anyone else.

 He thought he’d be trapped 

 in the bathroom at church 

 forever.

Now, Paul 

 says no silly talk, 

 no obscenity, no empty words, 

 but instead, thanksgiving.
So, is God telling me not to tell 

 a story like this?

No. Paul isn’t against laughter. 

 He’s against words 

 with no wisdom and no gratitude.

So where does this story end?
Not in foolishness. In thanksgiving.
A child was lost, 

 then found. 

 Locked in, 

 then let out.

Like the woman freed in Luke’s Gospel, 

when the whole crowd rejoiced.
And when we feel stuck, 

with no way out, 

we say:
“Hope in God. 

I will praise him still, 

my savior and my God.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, 

When we feel trapped 

and cannot see a way forward, 

remind us, You are always near.
When fear overwhelms us, 

fill our hearts with trust 

in Your saving love.
Turn our worries into praise 

and our confusion into gratitude.
You are our hope, 

our Savior, 

and our God. 

Amen.