Dear Saints,

Last week we heard Saint Paul’s great poem of love (1 Corinthians 13). Here it is again:

Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Keeping in mind we are made to bring God’s love to life (and this is what God’s love looks like), it’s perfectly acceptable to ask whether or not we live up to this high and lofty vision. Because we are committed to living out this vocation on a personal level, the question becomes whether or not we can replace “love” in Saint Paul’s poem with our name. If we were to do that, would it pass the sniff test? “Daniel is patient, Daniel is kind. He is not jealous, is not pompous, etc.”

Because we’re committed to living out this vocation together can we say that we, as the Body of Christ in Boonton, radiate the patient and kind love of God to the wider world? Is this what we’re known for? It should be, in my estimation.

Can we live out this life of love in every place, at all times, and for every person we encounter? Of our own strength, no! But Jesus can do it in us. He wants to do it in us. We just have to pray that he will, then trust and follow him where he leads.

Be assured of my prayers – and please pray for me, too!

Christ’s Peace,

Father Daniel

δοῦλος Χριστοῦ Ἰησοῦ