One of the reasons why we need to remember the blessings of God is that they provide us the motivation we need to follow God. Blessings are a great motivation when it comes to taking on something that we know from the outset is going to be difficult and may involve suffering.
Discipleship requires motivation. Yes, the greatest motivator is love and that is precisely why God wants us to reflect upon His blessings as expressions of His love. The expectation of or for blessings may not be the purest of motivations but it certainly is a start in the right direction. We must always seek to grow in our faith and particularly in the desire to purify that faith in love. The challenge that this proposes to all Christians is enormous as we live in a world that is suffused through selfishness. This selfishness works directly against the true nature of love. It is time for us to rediscover the truth about love and become ambassadors for that truth as we follow wherever Christ leads us. If there is one thing that sets us apart as Christians, it should be love. Jesus recognized this when He told His disciples that the world will know we are Christians by the love we have for each other. (See John 13:34-35.) Christians are supposed to be witnesses to the true nature of love in the way we live.
This is true for each one of us. We cannot exempt ourselves, no matter what our situation may be. In fact, the effectiveness of the Church’s proclamation of the Gospel depends on our commitment in giving our selfless love to the world and all who live in it. Perhaps the best example of this is the men and women who live lives of intercession and penance in the many cloistered communities around the world.
Reflection Question:
How do I respond to my responsibility to live selflessly? What can I do to improve my capacity to love others?
Jesus, teach me to live a life that is committed to love others. Never allow me to become self-centered and thus become a false witness to true love.
St. William Freeman, pray for us.
