Sunday Reflection: Love is everything

Today's reflection is brought to you by

1 Corinthians 13: 1- 13.

O Christ,

Canada's capital city,

and to a lesser extent, 

my own home town, 

have been inundated by people insisting on 

Freedom. 

Freedom from restrictions of every kind, 

freedom from vaccines, 

freedom from certain politicians. 

The problem is that we forget

how you made it clear 

that with the freedoms we enjoy 

comes responsibility 

for the most vulnerable,

the least among us. 

You call us to the freedom 

that comes from being your beloved, 

and remind us

that everyone else is also your beloved.

You expect us to love, 

to will the good

of everyone, 

not just ourselves.

Love is patient

and kind

and we must be,

too.

Help us,

please,

help us

to look beyond our own agendas

and see to the good of all.

+Amen

Here's a lovely song that Farley sang today at Inner City Pastoral Ministry, that fits perfectly with the sermon we heard. I had never heard it before, and I love how 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 has become a poem by Timothy Dudley-Smith, which is now a song with melody by Michael Joncas... enjoy!

What you may or may not have missed

I hope you were there, but if you weren't, the L'Arche Christmas Pageant this year was as beautiful as ever. Joseph and Mary arrived with the donkey attached to the back of Joseph's wheelchair. He was a very proud father, and gratefully thanked participants who came to the manger to leave gifts (food bank donations) for baby Jesus. Mary was delighted with her little baby, played by the twin six-month old sons of one of our assistants. Mary held on to Jesus, made faces at him, talked quietly to him, and completely enjoyed him as we sang carols and watched the shepherds, angels and magi play their roles in the ancient story. And Jesus watched Mary, yawned, closed his eyes for a few minutes' snooze, and fed from a bottle Mary offered him. The music was wonderful, and the gentle gifts of presence, acceptance and love offered by our people with disabilities filled the room with the incredible spirit of Christmas.

This pretty much sums up why I love L'Arche so much. It's a community that understands, from deep within, that, no matter our abilities or disabilities, we are all beloved by God.