Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. (Jeremiah 1:5)
God created each of us out of great love. Accordingly, God has called us to speak and live according to God's Loving Word.
But sometimes when we speak, we are moved by our personal ego and emotion rather than by God's loving promptings and so can be a "resounding gong or a clashing cymbal." We don't always act with love. When we speak or act out of ego and not divine love, our words and actions are not effective.
And when we do speak God's Loving Word, not everyone will hear and heed what we say. We will be rejected, as Jesus was rejected by the people in his own village. We will experience rejection by friends and family, acquaintances and others.
Faith Chat Question: How do you live according to God's Loving Word in your daily life so as to share God's love with others and all of God's creation?
Faith Response: Share your love with one another this week. Cut many small hearts out of red and/or pink construction paper. Put the hearts in a bowl on your prayer/kitchen table. As family members do loving things for one another through the week, have the person receiving the loving action write a thank you note on a heart and put it at the giver's place at the table so they can see the thank you heart at mealtime.
Prayer: God of Love, move in us so that we may share your Loving Word with all whom we meet. Amen.
