Today we hear Jesus say that those who love Him will observe and keep His commandments. St. Paul tells us to “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts” living in hope, gentleness, reverence—with clear consciences, suffering for doing good (not evil). This is a covenant relationship: a divine partnership, an agreement, a promise, a pledge, a vow for we who are baptized—if you love Him, all you do and all you are should proclaim Christ!
Yet sometimes it seems that somewhere along the way we lose that sense of divine partnership with God. We forget to rejoice that He is present in us to will and to work for His kingdom. Still—and in spite of us—our God is at work in us and through us to bless the world, to work things out for good, and to use those who love Him for His purposes. When we lose this God-perspective, when we forget this covenant—this sense of divine partnership—we may be in danger of beginning a downward and destructive spiral: we worry that we have to fix things or that we are a failure; we feel stressed and rushed to accomplish all our tasks at hand; we lose any sense of genuine thankfulness; we focus only on what is wrong or what we don't have or how we are flawed. We live distracted by technology and media and so forget to look for God's presence in our lives; and we ultimately divide the world into sacred and secular—limiting Him to a small box and a set time each week.
We must strive to remember our covenant, our divine partnership—because God is at work in us, both in our bad times and our good times. God is always looking to collaborate with us in His work of redemption, creation, love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and holy living—and it helps to become more aware of His presence in our every day. How do I know God is there? Because He has promised it! Jesus says today: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by the Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” We are promised that He will always be with us!
We are God's co-workers co-creators and collaborators. So, celebrate the good things that our Father is doing through us—not for our glory—but for His. Give thanks for what God is doing among us! When we live for His purpose and by His commandments, we bring God great pleasure and we live out our Baptismal promises, a divine partnership.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
Yet sometimes it seems that somewhere along the way we lose that sense of divine partnership with God. We forget to rejoice that He is present in us to will and to work for His kingdom. Still—and in spite of us—our God is at work in us and through us to bless the world, to work things out for good, and to use those who love Him for His purposes. When we lose this God-perspective, when we forget this covenant—this sense of divine partnership—we may be in danger of beginning a downward and destructive spiral: we worry that we have to fix things or that we are a failure; we feel stressed and rushed to accomplish all our tasks at hand; we lose any sense of genuine thankfulness; we focus only on what is wrong or what we don't have or how we are flawed. We live distracted by technology and media and so forget to look for God's presence in our lives; and we ultimately divide the world into sacred and secular—limiting Him to a small box and a set time each week.
We must strive to remember our covenant, our divine partnership—because God is at work in us, both in our bad times and our good times. God is always looking to collaborate with us in His work of redemption, creation, love, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and holy living—and it helps to become more aware of His presence in our every day. How do I know God is there? Because He has promised it! Jesus says today: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. And whoever loves me will be loved by the Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” We are promised that He will always be with us!
We are God's co-workers co-creators and collaborators. So, celebrate the good things that our Father is doing through us—not for our glory—but for His. Give thanks for what God is doing among us! When we live for His purpose and by His commandments, we bring God great pleasure and we live out our Baptismal promises, a divine partnership.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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